Security forces kill Hamas terrorist who held Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Naama Levy hostage
Naeem held several roles in Hamas’s Gaza City brigade, and throughout the war, was a senior operative in military intelligence and was close to Gaza City brigade commander Ezz al-Din Haddad.
Security forces killed Hamas terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem, who held Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Naama Levy hostage, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) confirmed on Tuesday.
Naeem was killed in a coordinated strike by the IDF and Shin Bet on August 28 in the Gaza City area, the military said.
Naeem held several roles in Hamas’s Gaza City brigade, and throughout the war, was a senior operative in military intelligence and was close to Gaza City brigade commander Ezz al-Din Haddad.
The IDF and ISA eliminated the senior terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem in the Gaza City area. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Reports from Naeem’s death surfaced on Sunday, with the IDF confirming his death on Monday through its official channels.
Damari reacted to the news of his death with an Instagram post where she thanked Israel’s security forces, who “never rest for a moment on behalf of all of us,” and hoped that good news, including the announcement of the return of the remaining 48 hostages, would come “sooner than expected.”
Previous killing of other Damari terror captor
Mohammed Nasser Ali Qanita, another Hamas terrorist who held Damari and the others captive, was confirmed killed by the IDF and Shin Bet in July, following a targeted attack in mid-June.
Qanita was a member of Hamas’s military intelligence’s al-Furqan Battalion. He infiltrated Israel on October 7 and then held Damari hostage in his home at the start of the war.
