Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, Hamas terrorist, during kidnapping of Yarden Bibas. (Photo: IDF)
An Israeli airstrike killed a Hamas terrorist who took part in the abduction of surviving Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, the military announced on Tuesday, as the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that preparations on the ground for a large-scale offensive have begun.
Hamas terrorist Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 massacre and participated in the abduction of Bibas , was killed in an airstrike by the IDF and the Shin Bet (ISA) almost two weeks ago, the IDF stated.
In June, the IDF announced the elimination of As’ad Abu Sharaiya, the head of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, who was responsible for the abduction and murder of Yarden’s wife and children in captivity .
Several days later, Israeli troops killed another Hamas terrorist who led a company of the group’s elite Nukhba Force during the attempted infiltration of the Ma’aras IDF outpost on Oct. 7.
The military said that Muhammad Naif Abu Shamala was responsible for advancing “numerous terror attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel” throughout the war.
“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorists who took part in the brutal October 7 massacre.”
Meanwhile, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, with the IDF confirming that intensified operations in the north are part of preparations for the planned capture of Gaza City.
“Our forces have already begun operating in recent days on the outskirts of Gaza City in preparation for the start of the ground operation and the takeover of the city in the coming weeks,” a military official told Israel’s Channel 12 News.
He added that the IDF had already begun issuing calls to the Palestinians in Gaza to relocate south to avoid harm to uninvolved civilians.
“Over the last few days, the Givati Brigade, under the command of the 162nd Division, has resumed operations in the Jabaliya area and on the outskirts of Gaza City,” the Israeli military announced.
The troops are “dismantling military infrastructures above and below ground, eliminating terrorists, and consolidating operational control in the area,” the IDF announcement said, adding that the measure enables “the expansion of the operation to additional locations and prevents terrorist organizations from returning to their positions.”
On Wednesday, Army Radio reported that an IDF outpost in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis repelled an attack by an unusually large terror cell, including 14-15 terrorists.
The terrorists managed to reach the entrance of the outpost, emerging from a tunnel shaft nearby and opening fire with machine guns and RPGs, according to the report.
A large close-quarters firefight erupted, lasting more than half an hour, with IDF soldiers calling in air support that was only partially effective.
After eight terrorists were killed, the rest retreated toward the tunnel shaft and escaped. Troops are still actively pursuing them to neutralize them.
During the clash, one soldier was seriously wounded and two others sustained light injuries.
According to the report, the terrorists sought to breach the outpost and abduct IDF soldiers stationed there.
The incident is highly unusual, as in recent months the remaining Hamas elements have mostly relied on small-scale hit-and-run attacks that require little tactical coordination.
The relatively large scale of the attack may indicate a partial recovery of Hamas capabilities in the area, possibly bolstered by the large influx of humanitarian aid and equipment – much of it stolen by the group.
