The IDF announced on Friday that in an airstrike two days ago in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza, forces eliminated the terrorist Sabahi Sami Mahmoud Shahata, a platoon commander in Hamas’s military wing. According to military statements, Shahata actively breached Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre, was directly involved in holding numerous hostages captive throughout the war, and even participated in the staged release ceremonies handing hostages over to the Red Cross in November 2023.
1+Our forces eliminated terrorist Sabahi Sami Mahmoud Shahata, identified by the military as a platoon commander within the Hamas terror organization’s military wing. The targeted strike was carried out Wednesday in the Nuseirat sector of the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, Shahata was directly tied to the October 7 onslaught: “The terrorist Sabahi invaded the sovereign territory of the State of Israel during the October 7 massacre and took part in holding numerous hostages in Hamas captivity throughout the war,” the IDF stated. The IDF further noted that Shahata participated in the propaganda ceremonies during the hostage release deal in November 2023. “Additionally, as part of Operation ‘Heaven’s Doors’ in November 2023, terrorist Sabahi Sami Mahmoud Shahata took part in the ‘ceremony’ releasing the returnees and transferring them to the Red Cross,” the military statement confirmed.
1+According to the military, Shahata’s terror activity did not end with guarding hostages. In recent weeks, he actively attempted to advance imminent attacks against IDF personnel and Israeli civilians. “Recently, the terrorist attempted to advance terror plots against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, and was eliminated to remove the threat,” the IDF noted. The military emphasized that Southern Command forces remain deployed on the ground in accordance with operational directives, maintaining an active posture to neutralize emerging threats: “IDF Southern Command forces are deployed across the sector in accordance with the agreement and will continue operating to remove any immediate threat.”