IDF announces death of two terrorists in Gaza, including senior operative who held Emily Damari and 2 other Israeli hostages

On Tuesday night, the IDF officially announced that it had eliminated senior Hamas terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem in a strike on Aug. 28 in the Gaza City area. 

Naeem held several roles in Hamas’ Gaza City brigade, where he functioned as a senior operative in the military intelligence unit and was close to its commander, Ezz al-Din Haddad. 

🔴 ELIMINATED: The senior terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem, who held Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Naama Levy in captivity, was eliminated in the Gaza City area.

Naeem held several roles in Hamas’ Gaza City brigade, and throughout the war, he was a senior operative in the military… pic.twitter.com/2SsQ4qq7br

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 2, 2025

Naeem held female hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Naama Levy in captivity. After his death was announced, Damari told Channel 12 News that she rejoiced to receive the news, saying she released “Screams of joy. People won't understand what this monster was to me and to Romi.” 

“He was in charge of me and Romi for about eight months. He was the commander of our guards, a very, very evil man,” she shared. “I want to say a big thank you, also to the security forces, also to the Shin Bet, also to the police, who really work day and night so that we can come to terms with those sons of Satan who held me and Romi.” 

The IDF has killed the terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem, who held Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Naama Levy in Captivity

Senior terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem was in the Gaza City area. He held several roles in Hamas’ Gaza City brigade, and throughout the war, he was a senior operative in… pic.twitter.com/SYI8m3ggbc

— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) September 2, 2025

On Wednesday morning, the military also announced the killing of the terrorist Musbah Salim Musbah Dayyah, who served as the head of the Kataib al-Mujahideen (Holy Warriors Brigades), the armed wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, in the Gaza Strip during activity in the area of Nuseirat. 

Dayyah was responsible for recruiting terrorist operatives in Judea and Samaria and in Israel, while helping plan terror attacks and terrorist activity. Throughout the war, the Mujahideen organization planned terror attacks against Israel and against IDF troops in the Gaza Strip. 

Dayyah was appointed head of the terrorist organization following the elimination of its three previous heads in IDF strikes in recent months. His elimination is expected to further degrade the group’s ability to plan and carry out terror attacks in Judea and Samaria and in Israel. 

Mujahideen terrorists took a significant part in the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, including the abduction and murder of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas. While group did not participate in the planning for Oct. 7, they immediately joined the attacks, acting as an extension of Hamas’ forces within Israel. 

“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel,” the IDF said in the announcement.