The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) struck and killed Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Awad, a senior commander in the Military Intelligence Array in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Friday.
He was affiliated with senior commanders of the Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist organization.
On October 7, Awad infiltrated the Israeli community of Nir Oz multiple times. He was one of the leaders of the massacre and was likely personally involved in the abductions and brutal murders of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir.
Additionally, he played a role in the abduction and burial of Gaddi Haggai and Judy Weinstein. He was also involved in the abductions of Thai citizens.
Additional terror attacks
As part of his role in the terrorist organization, Awad actively recruited operatives in the West Bank and within Israel, using them to plan and carry out attacks against Israelis until his death.
During the war, the Palestinian Mujahideen terrorist organization, with Awad as a key figure, carried out multiple terrorist attacks against Israel and IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip.
Bibas family kidnapping
During the October 7 raid, Hamas terrorists infiltrated into southern Israel, murdering and kidnapping hundreds of people, including the Bibas family. Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were kidnapped by Awad and their husband/father Yarden was kidnapped by Hamas.
The kidnapping of the Bibas family was one of the results of the complete collapse of Israel’s security forces on October 7, with their community of Nir Oz suffering a grievous massacre.
Hamas released Yarden Bibas on February 1 and released the bodies of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir a couple weeks later. It was then later announced that Shiri and the kids had been brutally murdered by their kidnappers in captivity and their deaths were used to psychologically hurt Yarden.