IDF kills two PIJ terrorists, one of whom commanded Inbar Hayman's abduction at Nova festival

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 20, 2026 19:25Updated: JULY 20, 2026 19:45The IDF killed two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists in separate strikes directed by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) in the Gaza Strip, the military said on Monday.The first PIJ terrorist, Taher Ahmad Salem Abd al-Wahed, infiltrated the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and commanded the abduction of Haifa resident Inbar Hayman's remains, after she was killed by infiltrating terrorists.The IDF killed him in a strike on Friday, the military confirmed.The other PIJ terrorist, Salah Subhi Salah Qatrawi, was killed after planning attacks against IDF soldiers in the area of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution centers, the military stated.Hayman was 27 years old when her death was confirmed to her family by Israeli authorities in December 2023, with her body held in Gaza for over two years.People celebrate at Hostages Square, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 9, 2025 (credit: FLASH90/CHAIM GOLDBERG)Hayman was the only woman left in Hamas captivity for most of the war’s duration, following the release of almost all the female hostages held by Hamas during the November 2023 releases.She had served as a commander in the IDF’s mixed-gender Caracal Battalion, a detail confirmed by the military following the release of her body.The 'Free Pink' sloganHayman was known through her graffiti art as "Pink" and "Raven," which led to the slogan "Free Pink" being used as a call for her release following the massacre.She had attended the Nova festival as a "helper," supporting dancers who were feeling unwell.“Our beloved Inbar has come home, to her parents, to her brother, and to us,” her family said in a statement shared through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum upon the release of her body.“This is a feeling that cannot be described, joy mingled with profound sadness," the family said. "Now, Inbar will receive the rest and honor she so profoundly deserves."“We are sure that if Inbar were here with us today, she would have urged us to continue fighting for all 19 of her fellow hostages who remain in captivity,” the family continued. “Our Inbar, the salt of the earth, served as a commander in the Caracal Battalion for three years," the forum relayed. "We salute you and invite the entire public to join us in honoring you, a hero of Israel.” Sam Halpern and James Genn contributed to this report.Follow us on Google