IDF Says Hamas Nukhba Operative Killed in Northern Gaza Strike as Pro-Palestinian Protests Continue

The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed carrying out an airstrike in northern Gaza that killed a man it identified as Sharif Shadi Ibrahim Labad, a member of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force who, according to the Israeli military, participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The strike was carried out on Tuesday, September 15, as Israeli forces continue targeted military operations in Gaza despite the ceasefire framework.

The IDF announced Labad’s death on Thursday and said he remained involved in activities that posed a threat to Israeli soldiers and civilians. Independent confirmation of all the military’s allegations about Labad’s recent activities was not immediately available.

Israel Links Labad to October 7 Erez Crossing Attack

According to the IDF, Labad was part of Hamas’ military wing and entered Israeli territory through the Erez Crossing during the October 7 attacks.

The Israeli military said he had more recently been involved in planning attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF personnel while also working to rebuild Hamas’ operational capabilities.

Israel described those activities as a systematic violation of the ceasefire and said the strike was conducted to eliminate what it regarded as an immediate security threat.

October 7 has remained central to Israel’s justification for military action against Hamas since the 2023 assault, in which Hamas-led militants killed people in southern Israel and took hostages. Critics of Israel’s subsequent campaign argue that invoking the attack cannot justify continuing Palestinian civilian deaths or broader destruction in Gaza.

IDF Acknowledges Civilian Harm Following Strike

The Israeli military said precautions were taken before the operation in an effort to reduce civilian casualties.

According to the IDF, those measures included aerial surveillance and the use of precision-guided weapons.

However, the military acknowledged reports that an uninvolved person was harmed during the attack and said the circumstances were being reviewed. It said it regretted harm to civilians and maintained that efforts were made to minimise such casualties.

Palestinian reports said a 15-year-old boy, identified as Mohammad Abdul Zinati, was killed when people approached the scene following the initial strike. Al Jazeera reported that footage showed people moving towards an injured person before another strike hit the area. The circumstances surrounding the sequence of strikes remain contested.

Another Hamas Nukhba Commander Killed Earlier in Week

The operation involving Labad was not the only Israeli strike targeting Hamas figures in northern Gaza during the week.

The IDF said another Nukhba commander, Yusuf Saad Al-Din Rashad Zaim, was killed in a separate strike on Monday.

According to Israel’s military, both men had been involved in attempts to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities and prepare attacks against Israeli targets.

The IDF said its Southern Command remains deployed in the region under the existing agreement and would continue acting against threats it considers immediate.

Gaza Civilian Toll Continues to Fuel Criticism of Israel

The latest strike comes amid continuing controversy over Israeli military operations in Gaza and their impact on Palestinian civilians.

Nearly three years after the October 2023 attacks triggered the war, much of Gaza remains heavily damaged, while reconstruction has proceeded slowly.

On September 16, a Gaza City building previously damaged by Israeli strikes collapsed, killing at least 21 people. Reuters reported that eight children were among those killed and that Palestinian rescuers were working with limited equipment. Israel says restrictions on some materials entering Gaza are necessary to prevent their use by Hamas, while aid organisations and Palestinian officials say the restrictions have severely hampered reconstruction.

The continuing humanitarian situation has intensified criticism of Israeli policy and renewed arguments over whether military operations conducted in response to October 7 remain proportionate and lawful.

‘Free Palestine’ Campaign Continues Online and in Streets Worldwide

The strike also comes as pro-Palestinian activism continues both online and through demonstrations in cities around the world.

Protesters have repeatedly called for an end to Israeli military operations, greater protection for Palestinian civilians and broader international recognition of Palestinian rights.

Recent demonstrations included pro-Palestinian marches in Paris and Stockholm on September 12, while protesters gathered outside Israel’s embassy in Tokyo earlier in the month. Demonstrations also accompanied the opening of an Israeli embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on September 9.

The phrase “Free Palestine” has also remained prominent across social media, entertainment and university activism. The debate has increasingly extended into cultural spaces, including a recent controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian statements during a US concert.

October 7 Remains at Centre of Competing Narratives

Israel continues to argue that its operations are necessary to prevent Hamas from rebuilding military capabilities and threatening Israeli civilians.

Palestinians, humanitarian organisations and pro-Palestinian campaigners, meanwhile, have increasingly challenged Israel’s continued reliance on the October 7 attacks when defending subsequent military operations that have caused Palestinian casualties.

Those competing positions remain at the heart of the international debate over Gaza: Israel says it is acting against militants who continue to present a security threat, while critics argue that Palestinian civilians continue to pay an unacceptable price for military actions carried out in the name of preventing another October 7-style attack.

The latest northern Gaza strike, and the IDF’s acknowledgment that an uninvolved person was harmed, is likely to add further scrutiny to how Israel conducts operations during the ceasefire and how it balances its stated security objectives against its obligation to protect civilians.