The Israeli army announced on Tuesday the death of Ahmed Fozi Nazer Muhammad Wadia, commander of Nukhba, the elite Hamas cell that planned and led the October 7 attacks in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 others kidnapped.
“As part of a joint operation by the army and the internal intelligence services (Shin Bet), the air force attacked a compound where Hamas militants were operating in Gaza City,” the armed forces reported in a statement.
During the operation, eight militants of Daraj Tuffah Battalion lost their lives, including Muhammad Wadia.
According to the armed forces, Wadia participated in the invasion of the community of Netiv HaAsara – adjacent to the northern border of Gaza – which he reached by paraglider, and led the militant attacks there on October 7.
“Wadia is the terrorist who He drank Coca Cola in the Taasa family house in front of the children of Gil Taasa, who survived the massacre after their father was assassinated by militiamen on October 7,” the note said.
The armed forces are referring to a famous video in which Wadia was shown drinking Coca-Cola next to the family refrigerator shortly after killing the father of the miners who were in the house at the time.
The attack took place near Al Ahli hospital in the northern Gaza capital and one of the region’s most important centers, although the army insisted the attack did not affect the clinic.
High-ranking militiaman
In addition, they claimed to have killed during the attack another high-ranking militiaman who carried out engineering activities, such as sniping, anti-tank operations and supplying the group with explosives.
“Prior to the attack, several measures were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians,” the army added, using a phrase it regularly uses when attacking places protected by international humanitarian law, such as schools or hospitals.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Gaza City suffered a bombing raid last night south of the Zeitoun neighborhood in the southeast, which hit a family home.
Palestinian media have not yet provided details on the attack near Al Ahli hospital.
The death toll in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, stands at 40,786in addition to 94,224 injured, after nearly eleven months of incessant attacks by the Israeli army which have devastated the Palestinian enclave.
