Kardi was targeted in an airstrike after being identified as a direct participant in the October 7 attacks and the captivity of Israeli hostages.
The operation targeted Abd al-Rahman Abd al-Hay Youssef Kardi, who served as a deputy cell leader within the military wing of Hamas.
Role in October 7 Attacks and Hostage Captivity
Military and security officials confirmed that Kardi entered Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre. Following the initial assault, he was directly involved in the detention of Israeli captives within the Gaza Strip.
He was also responsible for holding the body of Staff Sergeant Noa Marciano in the Gaza City Brigade area after she was murdered, keeping the remains until they were eventually recovered by Israeli forces.
Romi Gonen’s Account of Abuse
Romi Gonen responded to the news of Kardi’s death via an Instagram story, describing the psychological and physical toll of her captivity. She identified Kardi as the first person to destroy her innocence.
This is the first terrorist who destroyed my innocence, dirtied my soul. After four days in Gaza, he couldn’t contain himself and entered the shower after me. Look at him, this terrorist is now in hell and I am here alive. Romi Gonen, via MAKO
In a previous interview with the program “Uvda,” Gonen detailed the sexual assault she experienced in Gaza, recalling the dissonance between the beauty of the outside world and the filth and animality of the bathrooms where she was held. She noted that Kardi had threatened her life, pressing a gun to her head and warning that he would kill her if she told anyone about the abuse.
Operational Threat and Elimination
Security officials noted that Kardi did not cease his activities after the initial wave of captives. Throughout the months of fighting, and with increased intensity in the most recent period, he continued to promote terror plots targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel.
Because he was classified as an operational threat, he was targeted and killed in an aerial strike in the Gaza City area. The IDF confirmed that forces from the Southern Command remain deployed in the region according to existing agreements and will continue to act to remove any remaining threats.
While the operation provides a measure of closure for some, others emphasize the permanence of the loss. Adi, the mother of the late Noa Marciano, stated that no action can bring back her smile and that the pain and longing will remain for the rest of their lives.
