The Israel Defense Forces says it has killed a Hamas Nukhba commander accused of participating in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the abduction of members of an Israeli Armored Corps tank crew.
The military identified the man as Jihad Samih Mahmoud Ismail, describing him as a squad commander in Hamas’ elite Nukhba force.
According to the IDF, Ismail was killed in an airstrike carried out in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, September 10. The military publicly announced his death on September 16.
Israel Links Ismail to October 7 Tank Battle
The IDF alleged that Ismail crossed from the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.
According to the military’s account, he participated in fighting involving soldiers serving aboard Tank No. 3 near the Nirim area and was involved in the capture of members of the vehicle’s crew.
The tank was operated by Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, Sergeant Shaked Dahan, Sergeant Nimrod Cohen and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel.
Israeli authorities say Neutra, Daniel and Dahan were killed during the October 7 fighting, while Cohen was captured alive and taken into Gaza.
IDF Accuses Commander of Role in Abductions
The Israeli military specifically accused Ismail of participating in the abduction of Neutra, Daniel and Cohen following the attack on their tank.
The bodies of Neutra and Daniel were taken into Gaza following their deaths, according to Israeli authorities, while Cohen remained a hostage until his release in October 2025.
Dahan was also killed during the encounter, and his body was taken into Gaza separately. His remains were recovered by Israeli forces in August 2024, while the bodies of Neutra and Daniel were returned from Gaza in November 2025.
The IDF’s allegation that Ismail personally participated in the abductions is based on its own intelligence assessment and has not been independently established in the reporting reviewed.
Military Says Ismail Continued Attacking Israeli Forces
Israel said Ismail remained operational within Hamas after October 7 and was involved in attacks against Israeli troops throughout the subsequent war.
According to the IDF, he participated in ambushes designed to cause casualties among Israeli forces operating inside Gaza.
The military further alleged that Ismail had recently been involved in preparing attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians, describing those activities as violations of the existing ceasefire arrangements.
The IDF said the strike was conducted because it considered him an ongoing threat.
October 7 Tank Crew Became Prominent Hostage Case
The attack on the tank and the subsequent capture of its crew became one of the widely documented incidents from the October 7 assault.
Footage from the day showed the damaged Israeli tank and the capture of soldiers from the vehicle. Israeli investigations later concluded that Neutra, Daniel and Dahan had been killed during the fighting, while Cohen survived and was taken captive.
Neutra, who held both Israeli and American citizenship, became one of the most prominent hostage cases in the United States as his family publicly campaigned for the return of those held in Gaza.
Israel Continues Targeting Hamas Figures Accused of October 7 Roles
Ismail’s killing forms part of Israel’s continuing campaign against Hamas members whom it says participated in the October 7 attacks or subsequently helped rebuild the group’s military capabilities.
The IDF has repeatedly said it will continue targeting individuals it considers responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, including Hamas commanders operating in Gaza.
The latest operation also illustrates how the events of October 7 continue to shape Israeli military actions nearly three years later, with the IDF frequently citing alleged participation in the attack and subsequent threats when announcing targeted strikes against Hamas operatives.
