IDF eliminates key Hamas terrorist involved in October massacre
- Arafat Diab, a Hamas operative involved in the Oct. 7 massacre, was killed in an airstrike by the IDF.
- Hamas's actions included the murder of over 300 civilians at a music festival and violence in Kibbutz Re’im.
- The IDF's ongoing military campaign aims to eliminate key terrorist figures and establish lasting security in Gaza.
In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on May 31, 2025, that Arafat Diab, a significant figure in Hamas's Sheikh Radwan Battalion, was killed in a coordinated airstrike. Diab was involved in the horrific Nova music festival massacre that occurred on October 7, 2023, where more than 300 civilians lost their lives. During this event, Hamas militants infiltrated Kibbutz Re’im, leading to further casualties among civilians. Diab played critical operational roles, including overseeing police operations for Hamas and planning attacks against Israeli populations. His elimination is part of a broader IDF campaign known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which began on May 16, 2025, aiming to dismantle remaining strongholds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. This ongoing military effort involves the Israel Air Force targeting various infrastructures, including arms depots and militant hideouts, demonstrating Israel's persistent strategy to counter terrorism and maintain security following the traumatic events of October 2023. The campaign emphasizes targeting individuals who were instrumental in past violent acts against Israeli citizens, seeking to reinforce control and stability in the region as articulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who underscored the need for long-term security measures in Gaza.