Israeli forces killed a militant involved in the Oct. 7 invasion and hostage-taking during an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip [1].
The strike is part of a broader effort by the Israel Defense Forces to target individuals who participated in the initial onslaught and the abduction of civilians. This operation, described as a "revenge blitz," seeks to eliminate militants who played direct roles in the attacks on Israeli soil.
The target was identified by some sources as Abd al‑Rahman Ammar Hassan Khudari [1]. Other reports identified the individual as Zaher Abu Salem. The strike occurred on June 8, 2026 [1].
According to the IDF, the militant was a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, though other reports have attributed his affiliation to Hamas. The military said that the individual was involved in the invasion of Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 attacks.
“Abu Salem took part in abducting Israeli civilians from their homes and holding them …” an IDF statement said.
The operation in northern Gaza continues as the military pursues remaining targets from the Oct. 7 invasion. The IDF said the strike was a direct retaliation for the abduction of civilians, and the violence carried out during the breach of the border.
““Abu Salem took part in abducting Israeli civilians from their homes and holding them …””
The targeting of specific participants from the Oct. 7 attacks years after the event indicates a long-term intelligence effort by the IDF to map and eliminate the operational chain of command. The discrepancies in the militant's name and affiliation suggest the complex nature of coordination between different groups, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, during the initial invasion.
