The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Youssef Ayesh Awad Ramadan, a senior Hamas operative involved in the abduction of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and three other Israeli civilians during the October 7, 2023 assault. Ramadan was targeted in an airstrike in central Gaza as he continued to pose an active threat to Israeli forces and civilians.
Ramadan served as the deputy commander of a Hamas Nukhba unit and directly participated in the raid that captured Goldberg-Polin, Eliya Cohen, Alon Ohel, and Or Levy from a bomb shelter at the Re’im Junction near the site of the Nova music festival. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, originally from Berkeley, California, was held captive for nearly a year before being murdered by Hamas in August 2024.
The IDF emphasized that Ramadan remained engaged in planning assaults against Israeli military personnel and civilians throughout the ongoing conflict. His elimination was framed as a move to disrupt further offensive actions within the Gaza Strip, where Hamas units continue to operate clandestinely.
The killing underscores Israel’s ongoing campaign to dismantle Hamas leadership responsible for the October attack, which marked one of the deadliest assaults on southern Israel in recent years. Ramadan’s role in the abductions and subsequent attacks made him a high-priority target in Israel’s counterterrorism efforts.