Israel Says It Killed Newly Appointed Hamas Armed Wing Chief in Gaza Strike

Israel has announced that it has killed Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed head of Hamas’ armed wing in Gaza, in a targeted airstrike carried out on Tuesday, escalating its ongoing military campaign against the group’s leadership.

According to Israeli military and security officials, Odeh was eliminated in an airstrike on Gaza City that also destroyed a residential building believed to be used as a hideout. The operation reportedly followed weeks of intelligence tracking and surveillance.

Odeh had recently taken over leadership of Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, after the reported killing of his predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, earlier in May. He was described by Israeli authorities as a senior figure involved in coordinating attacks, including the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strike was part of broader efforts to dismantle Hamas’ military command structure, which has suffered repeated losses in recent months due to sustained Israeli operations across Gaza.

Palestinian sources have not yet issued an independent confirmation of Odeh’s death, but local reports indicated that several people were killed in the strike, including civilians in the targeted building.

The killing marks another significant blow to Hamas’ already weakened military leadership as the war in Gaza continues amid stalled ceasefire efforts and growing regional tensions.