In a decisive escalation in its ongoing campaign against Iranian-backed terror proxies, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) conducted a targeted operation, codenamed ‘Oz VeHerev’ (Courage and Sword), resulting in the elimination of 11 Hamas terrorists directly involved in the October 7, 2023 massacre. This operation embodies Israel’s commitment to pursuing justice for victims, disrupting terror networks, and securing its southern border amid a multi-front war triggered by Iran and its proxies.
October 7: Attack, Atrocities, and Strategic Impact
On October 7, 2023, the State of Israel suffered its deadliest assault since the Holocaust when thousands of Hamas operatives, aided by ordinary Gaza residents, launched a surprise attack across the Gaza border. Over 1,200 Israelis were murdered in brutal acts of terror: entire families executed, women raped, bodies mutilated, and more than 250 men, women, and children were abducted. These war crimes shocked the nation and the world, exposing the deadly intent and operational reach of the Iranian-orchestrated terror network that includes Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other groups across the region.
The October 7 massacre was not an isolated event but the most visible move in a wider Iranian campaign against Israel. Intelligence from Israeli and Western sources established that years of planning, training, and arms transfers—often overseen directly by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—preceded the attack. Hamas’ calculated barbarism was intended to shatter Israel’s sense of security and ignite regional unrest, confirming that terrorism remains Tehran’s instrument of choice.
Precision Operation: Neutralizing Perpetrators of Atrocity
‘Oz VeHerev’ represents Israel’s commitment to justice and deterrence. Following intensive intelligence preparation involving aerial surveillance, SIGINT, human assets, and analysis of seized digital devices, the IDF and Shin Bet identified and localized 11 terrorists who played direct roles in the October 7 massacre. Field commanders, cell leaders, and documented participants in mass murder were all on the target list.
The operation unfolded over a series of pinpoint raids, supported by precision air and ground assets. Israeli special forces maneuvered through densely built Gaza neighborhoods, often exploiting brief windows of intelligence and balancing operational urgency against the imperative to minimize harm to Gaza residents whom Hamas uses as human shields. By eliminating these perpetrators, Israel sent an unequivocal message: neither passage of time nor the density of urban combat will prevent the pursuit of those responsible for the worst single day of anti-Jewish violence since World War II.
Recovered materials from the operation included weapons, communications equipment, and evidence linking the deceased to documented war crimes. Intelligence officials stressed that these operations are ongoing, with many perpetrators of the October 7 massacre still at large, some hidden in tunnels, others openly celebrated within Hamas ranks.
Systematic Efforts: No Perpetrator Untouched
The operation is emblematic of a larger Israeli effort, described by defense leaders as a systemic campaign to find and eliminate every terrorist implicated in the October 7 atrocities. Shin Bet and allied intelligence communities continue to expand their identification of suspects, using interrogation records from captured terrorists and hostages, digital forensics, and battlefield evidence. Israeli officials have reiterated that accountability for these crimes will not be subject to negotiation or time limits.
This policy also seeks to disrupt future attacks. Substantial evidence reveals many of those targeted remained active in Hamas and its operational arms even after October 7, planning further incursions, rocket attacks, and schemes to exploit Israel’s preoccupation with hostages in order to inflict further civilian casualties.
Broader Context: Fighting a Regional War
Since October 7, Israel has faced coordinated threats not only from Gaza but from Iranian proxies in Lebanon (Hezbollah), Yemen (the Houthis), and Syria and Iraq. Rocket barrages, drone swarms, and infiltration attempts highlight that the war is now regional. The government has clarified that the war’s scope extends beyond Gaza, targeting the infrastructure and leadership of the entire Iranian-led network threatening Israel’s existence. ‘Oz VeHerev’ fits this doctrine, denying Hamas the ability to both claim victory for October 7 and plan renewed violence.
The Hostage Crisis: Tragedy and Cynicism
Over eight months since the initial onslaught, more than 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, along with over a dozen foreign nationals. Israel’s adversaries, particularly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have exploited their suffering to demand the release of convicted terrorists, seeking false moral equivalence between murderers and innocent Israelis. Israeli authorities, backed by military intelligence and documentation from returned hostages, have described horrific abuses—including torture and denial of medical care—demonstrating the systematic cruelty that defines Hamas rule.
Negotiations remain deadlocked, with Israel combining military pressure, intelligence operations, and diplomatic engagement with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to achieve the unconditional return of the hostages. Each act of terror—each rocket barrage, tunnel infiltration, or attempted abduction—intensifies the Israeli imperative: national security cannot be held hostage to blackmail.
Upholding Humanitarian Principles
Throughout the operation, the IDF emphasized measures to minimize collateral damage, despite Hamas’s well-documented strategy of embedding operatives and weapons among civilian infrastructure, including schools, mosques, and hospitals. Israeli air and ground units restricted ordnance to confirmed targets, aborting strikes where noncombatant presence was detected. The IDF’s record stands in sharp contrast to Hamas’s deliberate targeting of civilians—a point highlighted in ongoing international briefings and investigations.
International Repercussions: Disinformation, Moral Clarity, and the Path Forward
Israel remains subject to international scrutiny and disinformation campaigns, particularly those propagated by the axis of resistance and amplified in certain global forums. Nevertheless, the foundational facts remain unaltered: on October 7, Hamas and its accomplices committed gross war crimes for ideological, strategic, and genocidal purposes; in response, Israel launched a lawful defensive war to secure its population and uproot the regional terror matrix.
‘Oz VeHerev’ is a concrete example of how a democratic state, even in extremis, can adhere to the rule of law and operational ethics while pursuing ruthless, unapologetic justice for unprovoked mass murder. Each eliminated terrorist, each foiled plot, and each secured border reinforces the global principle that terror must have consequences—and that appeasement of unrepentant actors only invites renewed tragedy.
Conclusion: Enduring Resolve
While the elimination of 11 identified perpetrators of the October 7 massacre marks a significant step in the Israeli campaign, the broader war continues. Hamas, bolstered by Iranian arms and Indoctrination, seeks to reignite the flames of terror whenever possible. Israeli society, government, and defense apparatus remain united in their conviction: the architects and perpetrators of October 7th and their enablers will not escape justice, nor will Israel acquiesce to the normalization of terror.
Through operation ‘Oz VeHerev,’ Israel has sent a message of deterrence, justice, and unyielding resolve. As it defends its people and democratic values, the world is reminded why Israel’s fight is not merely for territory, but for the very principle of civilization in the face of unmasked barbarism.
