Ismail Mohammed Ibrahim Barim was killed in a Khan Younis strike. He had held Edan Alexander, Matan Zangauker, and Avera Mengistu in a tunnel in southern Gaza. All three were later released.
The Israel Defense Forces announced Thursday afternoon that it had killed a senior Hamas military commander who held three Israelis captive in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Ismail Mohammed Ibrahim Barim was eliminated Wednesday in an airstrike in the Khan Younis area.
According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, Barim held Edan Alexander, Matan Zangauker, and Avera Mengistu in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. All three Israelis were subsequently released after extended periods in captivity.
Alexander, an American citizen who served in the IDF, was abducted from a military base on the morning of Simchat Torah 5785 (October 7, 2023). He was freed as a gesture to U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump's visit to the Middle East. Following his release, Alexander chose to return to IDF service and said at an event near Gaza: "You made hell for me, I'll make hell for you back."
Zangauker was released in the most recent exchange deal, 738 days after being kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. His mother, Einav Zangauker, led the public campaign for his release. About two months ago, Matan traveled to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's gravesite in New York, where he emotionally recited the Birkat HaGomel blessing of thanksgiving.
Mengistu, an Israeli citizen from Ashkelon, crossed the security fence into Gaza in September 2014 and was held by Hamas for nearly a decade. He was released as part of the second hostage deal in February 2025. In the day preceding Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, a covert operation was conducted in Gaza as part of efforts to locate Mengistu, though the operation did not yield concrete results.
According to the IDF statement, the eliminated commander had recently been advancing terror operations against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, attempting to rebuild the organization's capabilities while systematically violating the ceasefire. The strike was carried out to remove the threat.
IDF forces under Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue operating to eliminate any immediate threats, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.
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