Israeli security forces have successfully eliminated a high ranking Nukhba terror commander directly involved in the October 7 atrocities and the kidnapping of an Israeli citizen from the Nova music festival. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Taher Ahmad Salem Abd El-Wahed, a senior operative in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization, was targeted and neutralized during a joint operation guided by precise Shin Bet intelligence in the central Gaza Strip.
The targeted terrorist led the brutal raid on the Nova festival grounds near Re'im during the October 7 attacks, personally commanding the abduction of Inbar Haiman. Haiman, who fled from the initial attack and concealed herself in dense foliage, was captured by terrorists, murdered while held in captivity, and her body was later returned to Israel following prolonged security operations.
Following the identification and return of her remains, Haiman's grieving family revealed that she had previously served as an IDF commander for three years in the Caracal Battalion. Her family issued a poignant public tribute, stating, "Our Inbar, salt of the earth, was a commander for three years in Caracal. We salute you and ask the entire public to come and salute you. Hero of Israel."
In a simultaneous targeted strike, Israeli forces also eliminated Saleh Subhi Saleh Qatrawi, another key operative within the Palestinian Islamic Jihad network. Security officials revealed that Qatrawi actively orchestrated immediate terror plots directed against Israeli troops operating near humanitarian assistance distribution centers located in the southern Gaza Strip.
Military spokespersons emphasized that Qatrawi deliberately manipulated humanitarian efforts and jeopardized local civilians to execute ambushes against security personnel. "The terrorist acted while endangering the residents of the Strip and cynically exploiting the humanitarian effort," stated official security sources regarding the targeted operation.
Intelligence assessments confirmed that both eliminated terrorists were actively planning and attempting to launch immediate terror operations targeting Israeli troops and civilians. The dual strike marks a significant continuation of ongoing IDF efforts to eliminate senior leadership figures responsible for the October 7 massacres. Southern Command forces remain deployed across the operational zone to neutralize any active threats and ensure regional security.
