Hamas terrorist who held six hostages killed in airstrike last month, IDF announces

By Emanuel Fabian

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5 November 2025, 7:34 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

This IDF poster shows Hamas terrorist Zeid Zaki Abd al-Hadi Aqel who held six hostages in captivity and was killed in a strike on October 29, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

A Hamas terrorist who was responsible for holding six Israeli hostages in captivity was killed in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip last month, the IDF and Shin Bet announce.

According to the military, Zeid Zaki Abd al-Hadi Aqel held hostages Bar Kuperstein, Ohad Ben Ami, Maxim Herkin, Elkana Bohbot, Segev Kalfon, and Yosef-Haim Ohana in captivity. All six have since been released.

Aqel was targeted in a strike on October 29, the IDF says, which came as part of a wave of strikes against Hamas in response to a deadly attack on troops in the Rafah area during the ceasefire.