IDF strikes kill key October 7 abductors and Hamas financial network leaders

Key points

• Saher Nidal Latfi Sakr, who abducted Argamani and Or from the Nova music festival, was killed in an airstrike in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza.
• Muhammad Hamad Muhammad Gabain, a Hamas military wing commander involved in holding nine hostages, was killed in northern Gaza on September 22.
• The IDF and Shin Bet targeted 16 key Hamas financiers, including Ibrahim Abu Shamala and Mohammed Abu Alwan, disrupting a network that moved over $1 billion.
• Additional strikes killed Ibrahim Fawzi Ismail Mohsen and Mohammed Kamel Suleiman Mohsen for violating the ceasefire and rebuilding Hamas capabilities.
• The IDF dismantled a two-kilometer underground tunnel in the Yellow Line area as part of ongoing operations in the 54% of Gaza under Israeli control.

Background

Argamani was rescued in June 2024, and Or was released in October 2025 under a US-brokered deal. In July, the IDF killed Ahmed Hussein Mohammed Kafina, another abductor of Argamani and Or. The current strikes follow a pattern of targeting individuals who continued to attack Israeli forces and civilians after the ceasefire began.

How outlets are covering it

The Jerusalem Post and JNS both report the killings of Sakr and Gabain, but JNS provides additional details on the broader campaign against Hamas's financial network and other targeted strikes. JNS emphasizes the disruption of over $1 billion in funding and the elimination of 16 key financiers, while the Jerusalem Post focuses on the specific abductors and hostage-holders. Both outlets agree that the strikes were conducted in violation of the ceasefire and aimed to degrade Hamas's capabilities.

Why it matters

The strikes signal Israel's continued commitment to targeting individuals who pose a threat to Israeli security, even after the ceasefire. The disruption of Hamas's financial network could significantly impact the group's ability to rebuild and fund future operations. The killings of key abductors and hostage-holders may also provide some closure for the families of the hostages, though many remain in captivity.

What to watch

The IDF and Shin Bet have warned that they will continue to target individuals involved in financing Hamas's activities. The military is expected to continue clearing terrorist infrastructure in the Israeli-controlled area of Gaza, including underground tunnels and other facilities. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further strikes and violations of the ceasefire.