IDF Confirms Killing Hamas Commander Who Held Multiple October 7 Hostages Captive

The IDF confirmed August 14, 2026 that Muhammad Bassam Mushtaha, a commander in Hamas's Al-Shati battalion, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza on July 30 and later died of his wounds. The military said Mushtaha was responsible for holding multiple Israelis kidnapped on October 7, 2023 captive in Gaza, including Tsachi Idan (killed in captivity, December 2023) and Cpl. Noa Marciano (killed in Gaza, November 2023), as well as Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Ori Megidish, Naama Levy, and Matan Angrest, who were later freed or rescued. The IDF said Mushtaha had recently 'attempted to advance terrorist plots against IDF forces and citizens of the State of Israel' and was targeted on that basis, framing the strike as self-defense permitted under the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire. The elimination is the latest confirmed kill by the IDF-Shin Bet 'Nili' unit tasked with hunting down every participant in the October 7 attack and hostage-taking.