An Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat area of Gaza killed Ihab Jamil Abu Taqiya, a Hamas squad commander whom Israel said had been involved in holding hostages during captivity, The Jerusalem Post reported on October 30. The strike took place on Thursday, October 29, according to a joint statement by the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet.
The announcement was made one day after the strike, and the report did not independently verify the Israeli agencies’ account.
The Israeli agencies named 12 people who they said had been held by Abu Taqiya, including former hostages Noa Argamani, Emily Hand and Ohad Ben Ami. The military also said Ibrahim Gihad Muhammad Abu Oshaiba, identified as a Hamas platoon commander, was killed in the same strike. The agencies alleged that both men had advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and worked to restore Hamas’s military capabilities.
The announcement was made one day after the strike, and the report did not independently verify the Israeli agencies’ account.
The IDF described the activity as a violation of the ceasefire and said it had taken precautions to reduce civilian harm. Those points reflect the Israeli agencies’ account. The report did not include an independent assessment of the men’s roles, a response from Hamas, or casualty information beyond the two named commanders.
The announcement was made one day after the strike, and the report did not independently verify the Israeli agencies’ account.
The same joint announcement described separate strikes on Thursday against two Hamas weapons storage facilities in Al-Bureij and Gaza City. The military said the sites contained weapons and equipment, including rockets, explosive devices, rifles and ammunition. It said civilians received advance warnings and that precision munitions and aerial surveillance were used.
The announcement was made one day after the strike, and the report did not independently verify the Israeli agencies’ account.
The strike follows a pattern of Israeli operations aimed at Hamas operatives whom Israel says pose immediate threats or are rebuilding military capacity. The public statement gives names and roles but not the intelligence used to identify the targets. Hamas is designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States. The article’s account of hostage holding and attack planning remains attributed to the IDF and Shin Bet.
The announcement was made one day after the strike, and the report did not independently verify the Israeli agencies’ account.