Israel says it killed terrorist who oversaw kidnapping of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, was likely involved in their murders

Israel says it has killed the terrorist who oversaw the abduction of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, and was likely involved in their murders.

Muhammad Hassan Muhammad Awad, a senior member of the Mujahideen Brigades, a relatively small terror group in the Gaza Strip, was killed in an airstrike today, the IDF and Shin Bet announce.

In a joint statement, they say that Awad was among the terrorists who invaded Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led October 7 onslaught, and that he led the abduction of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas.

The IDF says Awad was also “likely involved in their murders” during the early weeks of the war. Their bodies were returned to Israel in February.

Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas (Hostages Families Forum)

Awad was also responsible for the abduction of Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, who were both killed amid the onslaught in Nir Oz, along with several Thai nationals taken hostage from the kibbutz, the military says.

An undated photo of Judith Weinstein and Gadi Haggai (Courtesy)

Earlier today, Awad was targeted and killed in a strike in the northern Gaza Strip.

The terror group also confirmed his death, saying he was a senior military commander and head of its intelligence division. The IDF says he was considered close to the leadership of the Mujahideen Brigades.

“Additionally, as part of his role in the terror group, Awad was engaged in recruiting terror operatives in [the West Bank] and Israel [proper], through which they advanced and carried out attacks against Israelis,” the military says.

During the war, the IDF says the Mujahideen Brigades, which is allied with Hamas, carried out several attacks on Israeli forces in Gaza and against Israel.