“The troll was not just another terrorist, he was the gateway to hell.”
By The IDF Club
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced that Zaid Zaki Abd al-Hadi Akel, a senior Hamas operative responsible for holding six Israeli hostages, was killed on October 29, 2025, in a precision operation led by the Southern Command with air support.
Akel oversaw the captivity of Bar Kuperstein, Ohad Ben Ami, Maxim Herkin, Elkana Bohbot, Segev Kalfon, and Yosef-Haim Ohana, all abducted into Gaza during Hamas’ October 7 massacre. Israeli security officials said the strike was carried out following repeated violations of the ceasefire and as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’ terror networks.
Survivors described Akel as exceptionally cruel and sadistic. Bar Kuperstein, one of the freed hostages, reacted to news of the strike:
“This is it. Today they trolled the ‘troll’. That’s what we called him. This evil one. The terrorist Zaid Zaki Abd al-Hadi Akel, who was directly responsible for our capture, for the capture of the Six, was eliminated. I came out of hell, the troll was sent directly to hell. Happy to be back home. A little happier today that this evil one is no longer here. With God’s help, all the wicked will soon be destroyed.”
Segev Kalfon, another survivor, described the horrors he endured in captivity and reflected on Akel’s role:
“The troll was not just another terrorist, he was the gateway to hell. In his house, there was a pit we lowered ourselves into, where our lives above ground ended and we reached a depth no one should know. He watched and encouraged what he called the ‘game of life.’ They surrounded us, counted us, aimed Kalashnikovs, and demanded we choose three among us to execute. Some may say he got his punishment, but the truth and justice must still be pursued — even a bullet that kills a terrorist does not close the story.”
With this strike, Israel has eliminated a terrorist whose past actions caused immeasurable suffering to innocent Israelis, their families, and the entire nation.
