The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the elimination of the Hamas militant responsible for the murder of Corporal Noa Marciano while she was held hostage in Gaza. This development was announced on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.

The operation targeted a group of terrorists, including Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, following a Hamas-led attack that injured IDF soldiers in northern Gaza. This attack breached the existing ceasefire agreement, prompting a swift response from the IDF.

According to IDF statements, al-Habil, a commander within a Hamas cell, was killed during an airstrike in the Shati refugee camp located in Gaza City. The IDF emphasized that this action was a direct response to the overnight ceasefire violation.

“In retaliation to the flagrant breach of the ceasefire, the IDF and ISA successfully targeted and eliminated Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, who led a Hamas terrorist cell,” the IDF declared in their statement.

The tragic story of Noa Marciano, whose body was recovered and returned to Israel for burial in November 2023, underscores the human cost of this conflict. Investigations by the Israeli Security Agency revealed that al-Habil was responsible for the brutal murder of Marciano, who was just 19 years old at the time of her death.

The IDF also said that via Israeli Security Agency (ISA) questioning, al-Habil had brutally murdered Marciano, 19, while in Hamas captivity.

The IDF soldier had been abducted from the Nahal Oz outpost during the terrorist organization’s Oct. 7 massacre.

She was wounded in an IDF airstrike on Nov. 9, 2023, while being held by Hamas and was later taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. At the time, Hamas claimed Marciano died in an Israeli airstrike.

Her body was eventually recovered by Israeli forces in November 2023 and returned to Israel for burial in Modi’in, where she had lived with her family.

Following the announcement of al-Habil’s death, Marciano’s mother, Adi Marciano, said the family had been promised that everyone involved in her daughter’s murder would be brought to justice, according to The Times of Israel.

“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.”

Noa Marciano, 19, was abducted from Nahal Oz outpost during the Oct. 7 massacre and later murdered at Shifa Hospital. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

“This elimination brings closure for the Marciano family, and to the IDF and ISA,” the IDF said.

“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against any terrorist involved in the brutal Oct. 7 massacre and against any attempts by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to carry out terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.”

Israeli forces had been responding to multiple security incidents overnight, including attacks on IDF troops when al-Habil was killed.

At around 1 a.m., terrorists had opened fire on IDF forces in the Daraj Tuffah area, severely wounding a reserve officer. 

Israeli soldiers take part in an IDF exercise to enhance operational readiness along the Lebanon border in October 2025. (IDF)

IDF troops returned fire and carried out additional strikes in the area to eliminate the threat.

In the attack, suspects were identified approaching the yellow line in southern Khan Younis and were deemed a threat to the troops. The suspects were subsequently struck, the IDF said.

In addition to al-Habil, those killed included Bilal Abu Assi, a Hamas Nukhba platoon commander who led the massacre at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7.

Abu Assi was believed to have taken part in holding deceased hostages in captivity while directing terrorist plots against IDF troops. 

Ali Raziana, commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization was also killed, according to the IDF.