Israel says it has killed Mohammed Odeh, the reported leader of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, in an air strike in the northern part of the territory.
Israeli officials said on Wednesday that Odeh was killed in a strike carried out the previous day in Gaza City. Hamas has not yet issued an immediate response to the claim.
Odeh, a former Hamas intelligence chief, was reportedly appointed to lead the Qassam Brigades after Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in an Israeli strike earlier this month. Hamas, however, had not officially confirmed his appointment.
Israeli Officials Say Months of Tracking Led to Attack
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Odeh had been killed in the operation, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed that Israeli forces had targeted him.
The Israeli military said the strike followed months of intelligence monitoring aimed at tracking Odeh and those working with him.
According to Israel, Odeh was involved in planning and coordinating Hamas operations during the October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023. The Israeli army described him as one of the last senior Hamas military commanders linked to the planning and execution of that attack.
Gaza City Strike Hits Busy Neighbourhood
A source at al-Shifa Hospital told Al Jazeera that six people were killed and 20 others were wounded in Israeli attacks late on Tuesday in the Remal neighbourhood of western Gaza City.
The strike hit a busy area filled with markets and shops as residents were preparing for Eid al-Adha. Witnesses reported several large explosions in the area, causing heavy damage and panic among people nearby.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Gaza City, said the attack caused major destruction in one of the city’s crowded commercial districts.
Israel Continues Targeting Hamas Leaders
Israel has repeatedly targeted senior Hamas figures during its military campaign in Gaza. Over the course of the war, Israeli forces have killed several major Hamas officials, including political and military leaders.
Those killed include former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, longtime armed wing commander Mohammed Deif, and Mohammed Sinwar, who had taken a senior role after his brother’s death.
Israel says these operations are aimed at weakening Hamas’s leadership and military structure.
Ceasefire Under Growing Strain
The latest strike comes as the fragile ceasefire in Gaza faces increasing pressure. The ceasefire took effect on October 11, but Israeli attacks have continued in parts of the territory.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 906 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. The ministry says the overall death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached 72,803.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023. Palestinian health authorities say the war has caused massive casualties and widespread destruction across the territory.
Tensions Remain High in Gaza
Israel’s claim that it killed Mohammed Odeh adds another major flashpoint to the conflict. While Israeli officials say the strike targeted a senior Hamas military figure, Palestinian sources say civilians were also killed and wounded in the attack.
With the ceasefire already under pressure and talks over Gaza’s future still uncertain, the latest strike shows how fragile the situation remains.