UMVA has learned that a significant operation by the Israel Defense Forces has resulted in the elimination of a key Hamas terrorist, marking a crucial turn in the ongoing conflict.
The IDF announced that Yousef Ayesh Awad Ramadan, a deputy commander of a Hamas Nukhba terrorist cell, was killed in the central Gaza Strip on Monday. This cell is part of the special forces for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Ramadan played a critical role in the abduction of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was ultimately murdered in the Gaza Strip. The IDF stated that Ramadan infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7th massacre and took part in the abduction of Goldberg-Polin, along with three other hostages.
The abduction occurred at the Re’im Junction, where the hostages were taken from a bomb shelter. This event was part of a larger and more brutal attack that Hamas launched against Israel.
Goldberg-Polin's story is particularly tragic. He survived almost 11 months in underground tunnels following his capture but was killed alongside other hostages in August 2024, while still in captivity. He was just 23 at the time of his death.
The IDF also revealed that Ramadan was involved in planning further attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. This posed an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip, necessitating his elimination.
Other hostages taken during the same attack also endured unimaginable suffering. Eliya Cohen survived 505 days in captivity, facing extreme starvation and being kept chained in tunnels. He was eventually released in February 2025 as part of a negotiated deal.
Or Levy survived 491 days in captivity, only learning after his release that his wife had been killed in the October 7 attack. He has since reunited with his young son.
Alon Ohel, a talented pianist, spent more than two years as a hostage in Gaza. He endured starvation, torture, and serious eye injuries from a grenade before being freed on October 13, 2025, through a U.S.-brokered deal.
