The who murdered surveillance soldier Corporal Noa Marciano while held captive in Gaza has been eliminated, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Wednesday.
The operation targeting a group of terrorists, which included Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, came after a Hamas overnight assault that injured IDF soldiers in northern Gaza, breaching the ceasefire agreement.
Al-Habil, a prominent Hamas cell commander, died in the airstrike at Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp, according to an IDF statement.
“Reacting to the clear breach of the ceasefire agreement overnight, earlier today (Wednesday), the IDF and ISA conducted a strike that eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, leader of a Hamas terrorist cell,” the IDF confirmed.
The IDF further stated that through Israeli Security Agency (ISA) interrogation, it was revealed that al-Habil had brutally killed Marciano, 19, while she was held captive by Hamas.
The IDF soldier had been seized from the Nahal Oz outpost during the terrorist organization’s October 7th massacre.
She sustained injuries during an IDF airstrike on Nov. 9, 2023, while in Hamas custody and was subsequently transported to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. At that time, Hamas asserted that Marciano had died in an Israeli airstrike.
Her remains were eventually retrieved by in November 2023 and repatriated to Israel for interment in Modi’in, where she had resided with her family.
After al-Habil’s death was announced, Marciano’s mother, Adi Marciano, stated that the family had been assured that all individuals involved in would face justice, according to .
“This provides no genuine solace,” she said. “But there is an understanding that justice has been served, even if incompletely. Nothing can bring Noa back to us.”
“This elimination provides closure for the Marciano family, and to the the IDF stated.
“The IDF and ISA will persist in operations against any terrorist implicated in the brutal Oct. 7 massacre and against any efforts by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to launch attacks on IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.”
Israeli forces were addressing multiple security incidents overnight, including assaults on IDF personnel at the time al-Habil was killed.
At approximately 1 a.m., terrorists opened fire on in the Daraj Tuffah area, critically injuring a reserve officer.
IDF soldiers returned fire and executed further strikes in the vicinity to neutralize the threat.
During the incident, suspects were spotted approaching the yellow line in southern Khan Younis and were considered a danger to the forces. The suspects were then targeted, according to the IDF.
Besides al-Habil, the fatalities included Bilal Abu Assi, a Hamas Nukhba platoon commander who led on Oct. 7.
Abu Assi was suspected of participating in the detention of deceased hostages while orchestrating terrorist schemes against IDF soldiers.
Ali Raziana, commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, was also eliminated, the IDF reported.