WhatsappNearly three years after the October 7 massacre, Israel is continuing to demonstrate that participation in the invasion carries consequences long after the battlefield shifts.
The IDF announced that two Hamas Nukhba Force terrorists who participated in the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel were eliminated this week in separate strikes in Khan Younis.
On Sunday, an Israeli strike killed Hazem Musa, whom the IDF identified as a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba Force. According to the military, Musa participated in the assault on the IDF’s Re’im Base during the October 7 invasion.
One day later, another strike in Khan Younis eliminated Razek Sahil Suleiman Abu Shahma, another Nukhba terrorist who, according to the IDF, also invaded the Re’im Base.
Abu Shahma carried additional significance: the military says he previously served as a bodyguard for former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
But these strikes were not presented merely as retaliation for crimes committed nearly three years ago.
According to the IDF, both terrorists were actively working to advance attacks against Israeli troops and civilians while attempting to rebuild Hamas’s military capabilities. The army said these activities constituted violations of the existing ceasefire agreement and that the strikes were carried out to remove an active threat.
That distinction matters.
A ceasefire cannot become a shield behind which Hamas commanders and Nukhba terrorists are permitted to reorganize, rebuild their forces and prepare the next attack. Israel has already experienced the consequences of allowing terrorist organizations time and territory to regenerate their capabilities.
October 7 demonstrated where that approach ultimately leads.
The broader Israeli message is therefore becoming increasingly clear: ceasefire arrangements may alter the operational environment, but they do not provide immunity to terrorists preparing new attacks.
And for those who participated directly in October 7, the passage of time does not erase the account.
