Closing the circle in Gaza

Hamas commander who held 9 hostages killed

Muhammad Hamed Muhammad Gabain was killed in a precision strike in northern Gaza • He held Ziv Berman, Eitan Mor and seven other hostages throughout the war • Was working to rebuild Hamas terror capabilities and violated the ceasefire

Gila Isaacson

SEP 27, 2026 13:47

2 min read

The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Muhammad Hamed Muhammad Gabain, a commander in Hamas's military wing, in a strike in northern Gaza this week. The terrorist was directly involved in holding nine Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity throughout the war.

According to the IDF spokesperson, Gabain held Ziv Berman, Eitan Mor, Liri Albag, Agam Berger, Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Omri Miran, Keith Siegel and Alon Ohel in captivity. The strike was carried out Wednesday with the aim of removing the immediate threat the terrorist posed to security forces and Israeli civilians.

In recent weeks, Gabain had been advancing terror operations against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, working to rebuild Hamas's terror capabilities. His activities included systematic violations of the agreed ceasefire, according to the official statement from the IDF spokesperson.

The elimination joins a series of operational actions the IDF has carried out in recent months against Hamas commanders involved in holding hostages. In August, the terrorist Muhammad Mushtaha, a senior company commander in the Shati Battalion who held seven hostages and infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7, was eliminated. Last weekend, Mahmoud Awad, a commander in Hamas's military wing who was involved in holding seven hostages in an underground tunnel, was eliminated.