Mohammed Abu Ataoui, a commander from Hamas’ Nukhba force who led the murder and kidnapping of Israelis from a shelter near Kibbutz Re’im, was killed on Wednesday in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip, announced the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet on Thursday (October 24).

Mohammed Abu Ataoui served as the Nukhba commander in Hamas’ Bureij Battalion, and has been working for UNRWA, the UN’s humanitarian organization, since July 2022.

During the October 7, 2023, attack, Abu Ataoui ordered an assault on a bomb shelter near the kibbutz, where dozens of people had taken refuge after attending the Nova Festival.

Four people were taken hostage from the shelter, while 16 were murdered. Seven managed to survive and were later rescued.

Ataoui also participated in attacks against Israeli troops during the ongoing war in Gaza, according to the IDF.

Following revelations about Ataoui’s identity and his employment with UNRWA, Israeli authorities called for an urgent investigation into the relationship between UNRWA employees and Hamas.