IDF breaches gag order, exposes top Hamas Nukhba suspect under interrogation

A joint investigative team from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Israel Police’s elite Lahav 433 unit urgently contacted the IDF on Tuesday after a serious breach: the military had publicly revealed the identity of a Hamas Nukhba terrorist, Kan Reshet Bet reported Wednesday morning.

The terrorist in question not only participated in the October 7 massacre but also held Israeli hostages. According to the investigative team which was tasked with tracking, interrogating, and prosecuting Hamas’ elite operatives, the disclosure directly violated an active gag order and has already damaged the ongoing investigation.

On Tuesday, an IDF spokesperson published the terrorist’s name and photograph, announcing that he had surrendered in Rafah and was involved in both the massacre and hostage-taking. Investigators were reportedly stunned to see the suspect's face and name made public, as a previous decision had explicitly barred such disclosures for operational and legal reasons.

The Shin Bet and Lahav 433 warned that the exposure could undermine legal proceedings. Most critically, it could invalidate the process of conducting formal lineups for hostage identification, an essential step in proving involvement. Now that the suspect’s image is public, defense attorneys may claim identifications were biased by media exposure.

A military source acknowledged the blunder, calling it a “mistake,” and said the IDF would review internal procedures. The source emphasized that all future public releases must be coordinated with investigative bodies, assuring that protocols will be tightened to prevent similar incidents.