The IDF said it eliminated Mahmoud Fatair, a commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Nukhba force, during a strike in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza.
According to the military, Fatair infiltrated Israel during the October 7, 2023 massacre and later took part in holding Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski in Gaza. The IDF also identified him as one of the armed operatives who appeared during the November 2023 hostage-release ceremonies, where several Israeli and foreign hostages were transferred under the temporary ceasefire agreement.
Israeli officials said Fatair had recently been involved in planning attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, making him an imminent threat. The military said it used precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance and additional measures intended to reduce harm to civilians before carrying out the strike.
Following the announcement, Braslavski welcomed Fatair’s elimination and said the commander was among those responsible for the lasting psychological harm he suffered in captivity.
The IDF said Southern Command forces remain deployed in the area under the current operational framework and will continue targeting Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist operatives who threaten Israeli troops and civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.
