Israel’s military and intelligence agencies recently issued a joint statement confirming that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing a Hamas terrorist involved in the October 7, 2023 massacre and abduction of the German-Israeli national Shani Louk.
With the death of this suspect, all members of the Hamas terrorist group involved in the kidnapping and desecration of Louk’s body have either been eliminated or arrested.
According to a joint statement released by the IDF and Shin Bet on Tuesday, October 20th, Israeli forces launched airstrikes in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, leading to the death of a terrorist named Tamer Muhammad Ibrahim al-Sabbagh/Al-Zabaq.
Al-Sabbagh had infiltrated into Israel on October 7, 2023, and was involved in the massacre and kidnapping at the Supernova music festival. A photo captured by freelance photographer Ali Mahmud for the Associated Press showed Louk’s half-naked body lying face down behind a pickup truck, with Al-Sabbagh and his accomplices shouting as they sped away.
Israel’s military confirmed that Al-Sabbagh was the last fugitive member of this notorious Hamas group. Three other members of the group were killed earlier in the conflict, with one being captured by the Israeli military.
The IDF stated that Al-Sabbagh, while hiding in Gaza, continued to plan attacks against Israeli forces and civilians and tried to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities in northern Gaza, systematically violating ceasefire agreements. Therefore, the airstrikes were conducted to “eliminate the threat posed” by him.
During this military operation, another key target, Akram Bassam Shaaban Yassin, was also killed. Yassin was identified as a senior official of Hamas’s General Security Apparatus.
The IDF highlighted that this apparatus is a secret core department of Hamas responsible for the security protection of senior officials, encrypted communications, coordinating meetings, relocating emergency points, and producing intelligence assessments to assist senior officials in implementing terrorist plots against Israel.
Local hospitals and the civil defense department operated by Hamas reported that the strikes on residential buildings in the area on Monday resulted in the death of seven people, including Yassin and his wife, Dina.
The IDF stated that they are verifying the reports of casualties from Gaza and emphasized that recent strikes have focused on Hamas operatives rebuilding their capabilities, secret headquarters, and civil control mechanisms.
The massacre on October 7, 2023, resulted in over 370 civilian deaths at the Supernova music festival in Israel. Shani Louk, a 22-year-old tattoo artist of German-Israeli dual nationality, was kidnapped at the scene.
On that fateful day, Louk, in a disheveled state and unconscious, was paraded through the streets behind a pickup truck, a scene that spread widely across the internet and media, becoming a symbol of Hamas’s brutality.
In late October 2023, forensic experts confirmed Louk’s death through the identification of skull fragments recovered from the attack.
In mid-May 2024, the IDF located Louk’s remains during a military operation in Rafah, Gaza, and repatriated them to Israel. Subsequently, a formal funeral was held by her family.
(Reference: Reports from “The Times of Israel”, “The Jerusalem Post”, and others)