Ayman Nofal (Arabic: أيمن نوفل; 13 May 1974 – October 2023) was a Palestinian senior commander in Al-Qassam Brigades, the militant arm of Hamas.
[1] While many of the other Palestinian border crossers were released, as a wanted person by Israel, Nofal remained in Egyptian custody.
According to Al Jazeera, Egyptian authorities believed Nofal was planning to kill members of Fatah or was involved in weapons smuggling from Egypt to Gaza.
[1] After Ahmed Jabari was killed in an airstrike in November 2012, Nofal was considered a possible successor as Hamas's military chief.
Other possible successors included Imad Akel, Central Brigade commander Ahmed Ghandour, and Mohammed Abu-Shamala.