The Israeli military announced the death of Asaad Abu Sharia, the leader of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, during a recent operation. This operation, conducted in collaboration with Israel's Shin Bet security agency, targeted Sharia in response to his involvement in the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation on Saturday, stating that Sharia was killed alongside his brother, Ahmed Abu Sharia.

The militant group confirmed their deaths shortly after an Israeli airstrike hit their family home in the Sabra area of Gaza City. Reports from Gaza’s Civil Defense indicated that the airstrike resulted in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. Footage from the scene showed rescue workers sifting through the rubble of a collapsed four-story building.

The Mujahideen Brigades, under Sharia's leadership, participated in the October 7 attacks alongside Hamas and other militant factions. They were responsible for taking several high-profile hostages, including the Bibas family, whose tragic story became emblematic of the violence. The Israeli military stated that Sharia was among the leaders who attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border, where many residents were either killed or abducted.

Although the Mujahideen fighters were reportedly unaware of Hamas' plans prior to the assault, they joined the attack as an extension of Hamas' operations, according to the IDF. Sharia was implicated in the abduction and murder of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were just nine months and four years old at the time of their deaths. Kfir was noted as the youngest hostage taken into Gaza and the youngest victim killed during the attacks. Shiri was 32 years old when she was kidnapped.

The Bibas family expressed their gratitude to the Israeli military following the news of Sharia's death. They stated, "While Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir cannot be brought back, we find some measure of comfort knowing these despicable murderers will not harm another family."

In addition to the Bibas family, Sharia was also linked to the abduction of Israeli-American couple Gad Haggai and Judi Lynn Weinstein Haggai, who were killed near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national abducted during the attacks, was recovered from southern Gaza in a military operation on Friday. Israel believes that the Mujahideen Brigades may still be holding the body of another foreign national, although the group has denied killing any of their captives.