The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today the elimination of Zaki Yusuf Mahmud Abu Mustafa, commander of the «Nukhba» special forces unit of Islamic Jihad’s Khan Yunis brigade, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The IDF also reported the neutralization of Muhammad Usama Abd al-Aziz, a member of Hamas’s «Nukhba» unit.
According to the IDF press service, Abu Mustafa was killed as a result of an airstrike carried out in the southern Gaza Strip. Muhammad Usama Abd al-Aziz, a member of Hamas’s «Nukhba» unit who was involved in recruiting new fighters, was also neutralized as part of the same operation.
Abu Mustafa’s Activities
The Israeli military stated that Zaki Yusuf Mahmud Abu Mustafa, the eliminated commander of Islamic Jihad’s «Nukhba» special forces unit, directly participated in the attack on Kibbutz Nir-Oz on October 7, 2023, and in the abduction of an Israeli citizen. His activities played a significant role in restoring the organization’s military capabilities.
The IDF statement noted: «In recent months, Abu Mustafa played a significant role in restoring the terrorist organization’s military potential in the Gaza Strip, which constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement. Taking into account his recent activities and the direct threat he posed to the IDF, Abu Mustafa was eliminated in a precision strike.»
Muhammad Usama Abd al-Aziz is reported to have actively participated in the process of recruiting new members into Hamas’s «Nukhba» unit.