The Israel Defense Forces says it has killed Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, a commander in Hamas’ military wing whom it accuses of involvement in holding seven Israeli hostages underground in Gaza City.
The Israeli military announced Awad’s death on Thursday, September 24, saying he was killed in an airstrike carried out in the Gaza City area over the previous weekend.
According to the IDF, Awad had also recently been involved in planning attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers while working to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities.
IDF Announces Death of Hamas Commander in Gaza City
The Israeli military identified Awad as a commander within Hamas’ armed wing and said he had played a role in the captivity of Israeli hostages during the Gaza war.
The IDF said the operation targeting him took place in Gaza City.
Israeli officials described the strike as an operation intended to eliminate what they considered an ongoing threat.
Israel Links Awad to Captivity of Seven Hostages
According to the IDF, Awad was involved in holding seven Israelis in an underground tunnel in the Gaza City area.
The military named the seven as Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Doron Steinbrecher, Naama Levy, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran and Eitan Mor.
The Israeli military did not provide detailed information in its announcement explaining the precise nature or duration of Awad’s alleged involvement in guarding or holding each of the seven.
The claim comes from the IDF and has not been independently established in the information released with the announcement.
Four Women Among Hostages Named by Israeli Military
Gilboa, Ariev and Levy were among the young female Israeli soldiers abducted from the Nahal Oz military base during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack.
Steinbrecher was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
The IDF also named Berman, Miran and Mor among those it says were held underground in connection with Awad’s activities.
The seven became among the many Israelis whose captivity remained central to public and political debate throughout the Gaza conflict.
IDF Accuses Awad of Planning New Attacks
Israel’s allegations against Awad extended beyond his purported involvement with the hostages.
The IDF claimed that, more recently, he had been planning and advancing attacks targeting both Israeli civilians and Israeli troops.
Israeli officials did not disclose extensive operational details about the alleged plans in the announcement.
The military said his activities meant Awad continued to represent a security threat.
Israel Claims Hamas Commander Was Rebuilding Military Capabilities
The IDF further accused Awad of participating in efforts to restore Hamas’ capabilities.
According to the Israeli military, those activities represented a systematic violation of the ceasefire.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas operatives of attempting to rebuild military infrastructure and operational capabilities during the ceasefire period.
The IDF has cited those alleged activities when announcing several recent strikes against Hamas commanders and operatives.
IDF Says Strike Was Intended to Remove Continuing Threat
In announcing Awad’s death, the Israeli military said the operation was conducted because of the threat it believed he continued to pose.
“The terrorist was eliminated in order to remove the threat he posed,” the IDF said.
Israel has used similar language in recent announcements concerning strikes against Hamas figures whom it accuses of preparing attacks or helping rebuild the group’s military infrastructure.
Killing Comes Amid Continuing Tensions Over Gaza Ceasefire
Awad’s killing comes as accusations of ceasefire violations continue to accompany the fragile situation in Gaza.
Israel maintains that it retains the right to act against what it considers immediate security threats, while the broader ceasefire framework is intended to prevent a return to sustained large-scale fighting.
The Israeli military has continued announcing operations against individuals it identifies as Hamas commanders, arguing that some have been working to restore the group’s capabilities.
Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of actions violating ceasefire arrangements during different stages of the conflict.
Hostage Crisis Remains Central to Legacy of Gaza War
The Israeli hostage crisis has remained one of the defining consequences of the Hamas-led October 7 attack and the war that followed.
Hundreds of people were taken hostage during the assault, prompting military operations, negotiations and international diplomatic efforts aimed at securing their release.
For Israel, identifying those it says participated in abducting, guarding or holding hostages has also become an important element of its continuing operations against Hamas.
The killing of Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad is now being presented by the IDF as part of that effort, with the military linking the Hamas commander both to the captivity of seven Israelis and to alleged attempts to prepare further attacks and rebuild Hamas’ capabilities.
