The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Wednesday that the Hamas terrorist responsible for murdering Israeli soldier Noa Marciano has been killed, marking another successful operation targeting those tied to the October 7 massacre. The IDF said the airstrike followed overnight attacks on Israeli troops in Gaza that violated an existing ceasefire.
According to the IDF, Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, a senior Hamas cell commander, was eliminated in Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp. Israeli officials said the strike responded directly to terrorist fire that wounded IDF forces in northern Gaza. “In response to the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement overnight, earlier today (Wednesday), the IDF and ISA struck and eliminated the terrorist Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, head of a Hamas terrorist cell,” the IDF stated.
Security officials confirmed through Israeli Security Agency questioning that al-Habil murdered Corporal Noa Marciano, 19, while she was held captive in Gaza. Marciano had been abducted from the Nahal Oz outpost during the October 7 terrorist assault. She was later moved to Shifa Hospital after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike, where Hamas falsely claimed she died from Israeli action. Her body was recovered in November 2023 and returned to her hometown of Modi’in for burial.
Marciano’s mother, Adi Marciano, responded following the announcement. “There is no real comfort in this,” she said. “But there is knowledge that justice was done, even if only partially. Nothing will bring Noa back to us.”
The IDF said the operation also killed Bilal Abu Assi, a Hamas Nukhba commander who led the Kibbutz Nir Oz massacre, and Ali Raziana, a senior Islamic Jihad commander. Israeli forces reported additional overnight engagements in Gaza, including gunfire that severely wounded a reserve officer.
“This elimination brings closure for the Marciano family, and to the IDF and ISA,” the military said, adding that operations will continue until every terrorist involved in October 7 is held accountable.
