From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Hamas terrorist who murdered IDF surveillance soldier Noa Marciano killed in strike
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A Hamas terrorist who murdered IDF surveillance soldier Cpl. Noa Marciano in captivity at the start of the war in Gaza was killed in an airstrike earlier today, the military announces.
The IDF says Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, a Hamas cell commander, was targeted in Gaza City’s Shati Camp in response to an overnight attack on troops in northern Gaza, during which a reservist officer was seriously wounded by Palestinian gunmen.
According to the Shin Bet security agency, during interrogations of captured suspects, it emerged that al-Habil “brutally murdered” Marciano in captivity.
צה"ל ושב"כ חיסלו את המחבל שרצח את התצפיתנית רב"ט נועה מרציאנו ז"ל בשבי חמאס
צה"ל ושב"כ תקפו מוקדם יותר היום במרחב שאטי, וחיסלו את המחבל מחמד עצאם חסן הביל, ראש חולייה מארגון הטרור חמאס, זאת בתגובה להפרת ההסכם הלילה.
במסגרת חקירות בשב"כ, עלה כי המחבל רצח באכזריות את התצפיתנית,… pic.twitter.com/QQpKIxMimg
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 4, 2026
The IDF adds that the strike today was enabled by intelligence collected by the Gaza Division, where Marciano had served as a surveillance soldier as part of the 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit.
Marciano, who was abducted on October 7, 2023, from the Nahal Oz base, was later killed at Shifa Hospital, according to the military. Her body was recovered by the IDF in November 2023.
Several Hamas terrorists involved in guarding Marciano were killed in strikes during the war.
The Times of Israel Community.