Israeli forces have reportedly killed Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed commander of Hamas’s military wing, in a targeted airstrike on a busy commercial district in Gaza City on Tuesday. The assassination comes just weeks after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack.
At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured in the strike. Rescue and civil defense teams struggled to reach the upper floors of the targeted building due to heavy congestion in the area and the sheer scale of the structural damage.
Details of the Airstrike
- The Location: The strike hit the top three floors of the al-Kayali residential building in the heart of Gaza City. The surrounding market streets were densely packed with shoppers preparing for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday.
- The Attack: According to witnesses, a helicopter was heard hovering overhead before at least five missiles struck the building almost simultaneously from multiple directions.
- Secondary Target: The Israeli military also reported striking a nearby apartment belonging to an alleged October 7 participant who was part of Odeh’s inner circle.
The Target: Mohammed Odeh
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service confirmed the operation, stating that Odeh’s hideout was targeted following months of intensive intelligence surveillance tracking him and his assistants. Hamas has not yet issued an immediate comment regarding the claim.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described Odeh as one of the “architects of the October 7 massacre,” holding him responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of numerous Israeli civilians and soldiers. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to hunting down all individuals involved in the October 7 attacks, stating, “Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all.”
Odeh’s predecessor, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was killed in another Israeli airstrike on a residential building earlier in May, which also resulted in at least three fatalities.
Ceasefire Tensions and Stalled Peace Plans
Tuesday’s bombardment is the latest in a series of deadly strikes in Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement that went into effect in October. Both sides have accused the other of violating the terms of the truce:
- Hamas’s Stance: Hamas accuses Israel of routinely attacking civilians and breaching the ceasefire. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 900 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began.
- Israel’s Stance: The Israeli government argues it maintains the right to target Hamas operatives and accuses the group of failing to uphold disarmament clauses. Hamas has reportedly reactivated its police force and is attempting to reassert authority in the region.
Broader diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked. The later phases of a US-led peace plan—which announced a transitional, technocratic administration for Gaza alongside demilitarization and reconstruction efforts in January—have stalled. Progress was derailed following the outbreak of war between the US, Israel, and Iran in February, leaving disarmament negotiations at a standstill.
Broader Regional Context
The ongoing conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages.
In response, Israel’s massive military campaign has devastated much of Gaza’s infrastructure, displacing the vast majority of its 2.1 million residents. According to Gaza’s health ministry—whose figures are considered reliable by the UN—more than 72,800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the war began.
Regional tensions also remain highly volatile. The Gaza City strike follows recent Israeli operations in Lebanon, where strikes targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure left 31 people dead. Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to intensify military action against the Lebanese armed group.
