The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced a significant "closing of the circle" following months of focused intelligence and operational work, confirming the targeted elimination of eight terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre. Among those killed were four operatives directly responsible for the abduction and detention of Israeli civilians, including high-profile hostages Noa Argamani, Avinatan Or, and Eitan Mor, from the Nova music festival.
The targeted killings, executed throughout 2025, were made possible by "intelligence deciphering" from the Military Intelligence Directorate, in cooperation with the Israeli Air Force. This effort is centralized within a special command post, "Ne'eli HAP", established within the Shin Bet and Southern Command Intelligence, with the explicit mission to eliminate all terrorists who breached Israeli territory on October 7. The security organizations emphasized that this operation is a central pillar in the effort to restore security to residents of the Gaza envelope.
The Terrorists Responsible for High-Profile Abductions
The announcement detailed the elimination of the four terrorists linked to the abduction of the three specific Nova festival attendees:
- Ahmed Ibrahim Ragheb Shaer: Responsible for the abduction of Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or from the Nova festival. He was eliminated on August 22, 2025. Argamani was rescued in "Operation Arnon" after 245 days in captivity, while Or was released recently after 738 days in Hamas captivity, having been held in a tunnel the entire time.
- Ahmed Abu Marhil: Also participated in the abduction of Avinatan Or. He was eliminated on March 26, 2025.
- Arafat Dib: Responsible for the abduction of Eitan Mor from the Nova festival and holding him in Hamas captivity. He was eliminated on May 30, 2025. Mor, who, along with his friend Rom Berezovsky, managed to save a group of festival-goers just 400 meters from Gaza before his own capture, learned of his best friend Eliakim Libman’s murder while in captivity.
- Odeh Alian Ahmed Koarea: While not responsible for a specific abduction, he was involved in holding Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. He was eliminated on August 26, 2025.
Additional Terrorists Eliminated for October 7 Involvement
Four other terrorists who participated in the deadly invasion and massacre were also eliminated:
- Bakr Mugida: Penetrated Israeli territory on October 7 and was responsible for breaching the fence using a tractor. He was eliminated on July 13, 2025.
- Firas Grir Suilam Al-Hadhaf: Participated in the raid on Kibbutz Kissufim. He was eliminated on August 23, 2025.
- Ibrahim Saleh Ragheb Bahit (eliminated July 6, 2025) and Moayed Mahmoud Muhammad Nofal (eliminated March 27, 2025): Both participated in the massacre and actively took part in the murder of Israeli civilians.
Families' Response: "Fire and the Wrath of the IDF"
The families of Avinatan Or and Eitan Mor, both of whom were among the last 20 living hostages released from Gaza in early October, responded to the announcement with strong emotional approval.
"We heard with happy emotions that the terrorists who abducted our dear Eitan Mor and Avinatan Or were eliminated by the IDF and Shin Bet," the families wrote. "We want to thank the heroic soldiers and Shin Bet for these eliminations. The vile and cursed terrorists who have not yet been eliminated need to know that their day will also come, and that whoever chose the path of terrorism will receive the fire of hell; whoever murdered, kidnapped, and raped will receive the wrath of the IDF."
They further stated that those terrorists who were eliminated "will no longer kidnap, murder, and will not be released in the next deal to return to murder, rape, burn, and kidnap children." Concluding with a firm message to the government, they declared: "There were days in Jewish history when after disasters we presented the other cheek, but those days are over. October 7 woke us all up and we demand that the government continue to attack those who kidnapped, murdered, and raped. Do not let anyone escape the punishment he deserves."
