IDF says Oct. 7 terrorist who held hostages killed in Gaza strike

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

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist who held hostages in the Gaza Strip and commanded members of the terror group as they invaded Israel during the October 7, 2023, onslaught, was killed in a strike this week, the military and Shin Bet announce.

The IDF says the strike on Sunday in southern Gaza killed Talal al-Aal, who held several roles in Islamic Jihad.

“Al-Aal commanded a cell of terrorists that invaded Israel and took part in the October 7 massacre,” the military says.

During the war, al-Aal held hostages who were in captivity of Islamic Jihad in southern Gaza, the IDF adds.

The IDF in recent months has been ramping up strikes on terror operatives in Gaza, including several October 7 terrorists, saying they posed a threat to Israeli forces.

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