IDF Targeted Strikes in Gaza Eliminate Over 700 Terrorists
The IDF has eliminated over 700 terrorists in the Gaza Strip through targeted operations led by intelligence teams like Team Nili and directed by Gaza Division officers.
Israel has been conducting a targeted killings policy in the Gaza Strip over recent months. According to security establishment estimates, over 700 terrorists have been eliminated in Gaza since the ceasefire nearly a year ago. These include senior commanders in Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as operatives who planned or were about to carry out attacks against IDF forces in Gaza. The eliminated individuals also include numerous terrorists who participated in the October 7 atrocities.
Operation Nili and IDF Coordination
Operations across the Strip are spearheaded by Team Nili, a joint headquarters and command center established by the Shin Bet and the IDF immediately following the massacre. Driving the operational and intelligence planning for these strikes is Captain A., operations officer in the Gaza Division fire control center.
In most cases, Captain A. is the one who presses the trigger to release the munition that eliminates the target. Strikes are carried out at a rate of roughly two per 24 hours. While some operations are executed directly by the Gaza Division, two other fire control cells operate in the sector: the 99th Division fire control center and the Southern Command fire control center.
"Only when everyone is convinced it is them, do we press the trigger," says Captain A., detailing the rigorous verification process required before any strike is authorized.
Intelligence-Driven Precision
Captain A. began her service in the Artillery Corps, completing officer training and serving in various artillery cooperation roles before taking on one of the most complex tasks shouldered by the IDF in Gaza. Her responsibilities include locating suspects, securing their incrimination approval, and executing targeted eliminations while minimizing collateral damage.
In a special interview, Captain A. noted that operations target Hamas's rearmament efforts, spanning financial infrastructure and terror tunneling. Those eliminated include commanders and rank-and-file members engaged in force building, training, and weaponry procurement.
"We work in an integrated manner combining fire, intelligence, and reconnaissance, piecing together information to thwart plots against IDF forces," she explained. "We connect to specific individuals or specific operational pathways, gather incriminating evidence, and deliver precise munitions. Most cases involve a lengthy process to determine the optimal attack vector and minimize civilian casualties."
Psychological Impact on Terror Operatives
Captain A. emphasizes that multiple checks are conducted to prevent misidentification. The constant pressure of dozens of eliminations over the past month has left operatives feeling hunted. "The target knows we are after them—from the air and the ground. They think four times before executing a terror plot.
Reflecting on the psychological weight of her role, Captain A. expressed profound conviction in her mission. "Every day I operate, there is one less terrorist and one less terror plot threatening our forces and the country. That is another night the residents of the envelope communities sleep in soundly. Eliminating a terrorist means saving a soldier." She added that weekly debriefs and warm processing sessions help the team navigate the intense operational reality.
Recalling her first elimination on October 8, 2023—targeting an infiltration attempt along the northern border fence—Captain A. stressed that operatives caught on video boasting about the October 7 massacres will be hunted down, regardless of whether they have temporarily blended back into civilian life.
