Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
IDF Eliminates Terrorist Commander Linked to Bibas Family Tragedy
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday the elimination of a key terrorist commander allegedly responsible for the abduction and suspected murder of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Kfir, aged 10 months, and Ariel, 4 years old. According to the IDF, this individual was a central figure in terror activities and directly connected to the tragic events surrounding the Bibas family.
Senior Militant Commander “Eliminated”
The IDF identified the deceased as Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, a senior commander within the Palestinian Mujahideen organization. Awad is reported to have been instrumental in orchestrating multiple assaults on the Nir Oz kibbutz during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The IDF stated that Awad was “eliminated” in a targeted operation.
Involvement in Additional Kidnappings
Authorities further asserted that Awad was also accountable for the abduction and subsequent burial of American citizens Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai, as well as the capture of Thai nationals during the same period of terror attacks.
Recruitment and Planning of Attacks
According to a joint statement from the IDF and the Israel Securities Authority, “In his capacity within the terrorist organization, Mohammad Awad was actively engaged in recruiting operatives in Judea and Samaria and within Israel. He utilized these individuals to devise and execute attacks targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel up until his demise.”
Nir Oz Kibbutz and the Bibas Family Abduction
The Nir Oz kibbutz was among the communities most severely affected by the October 7, 2023 incursions. The abduction of the Bibas family garnered international attention following the circulation of harrowing images depicting Shiri Bibas clutching her children amidst their capture by terrorists.
Yarden Bibas’s Captivity and Family’s Fate
Shiri’s husband, Yarden Bibas, was also taken captive by Hamas operatives while attempting to defend his family. The family members were not held together during their captivity. Yarden Bibas was eventually released in January after 15 months in captivity. The remains of his wife and children were recovered in February.
Hamas Propaganda and Forensic Findings
During Yarden’s captivity, Hamas compelled him to participate in a staged video where another captive was coerced into informing him that his wife and sons had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel consistently refuted these claims, citing a lack of corroborating intelligence. Subsequent forensic analysis conducted after the recovery of their bodies indicated that they were murdered “in cold blood” no later than November 2023.
“Horrific Acts” and Operation Details
Former IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated in February, “The terrorists did not shoot the young boys – they killed them with their bare hands. Subsequently, they committed horrific acts to conceal these atrocities.” The IDF has not disclosed specific details regarding the operation that resulted in Awad’s death, only confirming that he was “struck and eliminated.”