Israel eliminates Hamas Commander Abd al-Hadi Sabah, leader of Kibbutz attack
Israel has confirmed the elimination of Abd al-Hadi Sabah, a senior Hamas commander, in a targeted drone strike. The operation, carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza, was based on precise intelligence and occurred on January 1, 2025. Sabah was identified as a key figure in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and numerous hostages being taken.
Background on Abd al-Hadi Sabah
Position: Sabah served as a Nukhba Platoon Commander within Hamas’ Western Khan Yunis Battalion.
Role in October 7 Attack: He was instrumental in leading the infiltration into Kibbutz Nir Oz during what has been termed the “murderous October 7 Massacre”. The IDF described him as one of the main orchestrators behind this significant assault against Israeli civilians.
IDF Operations
The IDF’s statement emphasized that they will continue to target individuals involved in the October 7 attacks. In addition to eliminating Sabah, the IDF reported that they had recently killed 14 other Hamas militants, six of whom were directly involved in the same attack. These operations are part of a broader military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties—over 45,000 according to local reports.
The October 7 attack marked one of the deadliest incidents in recent Israeli history and has led to ongoing military responses from Israel, escalating tensions across the region. The conflict has drawn international attention and calls for a ceasefire due to the high humanitarian toll on civilians in Gaza.
