Israel Says It Struck Hamas Military Chief Mohammed Odeh In Gaza

The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike on Tuesday targeting Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed head of the military wing of Hamas, in western Gaza City, as fighting in the region continues amid an ongoing war that has severely escalated tensions in the Middle East. Odeh had reportedly taken over leadership of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades only a week earlier, following the killing of his predecessor in a separate Israeli strike earlier this month.

According to a joint statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the strike was conducted under direct government orders and targeted a senior Hamas commander described as one of the planners of the October 7 cross-border attack on Israel. The statement said Odeh previously headed Hamas intelligence and played a key role in operations linked to the assault, which triggered the current war in Gaza.

Local emergency services in Gaza reported that at least three people were killed and around 20 others were wounded in the strike, which hit the Rimal neighbourhood in western Gaza City. The civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said rescue teams were dispatched to the site to recover victims from the rubble and provide emergency medical assistance. However, it was not immediately confirmed whether Odeh himself was among those killed or injured in the attack.

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Israeli officials stated that Odeh was responsible for orchestrating violence against Israeli civilians and military personnel during the October 7 assault, which marked a major escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The attack, according to Israeli figures, killed more than 1,200 people and led to large-scale military retaliation across Gaza. Since then, Israel has intensified its operations targeting senior Hamas political and military figures both inside Gaza and abroad.

The Gaza conflict has resulted in widespread devastation, with Gaza’s health authorities reporting tens of thousands of deaths since the start of the war. Israeli forces have continued to strike what they describe as militant infrastructure, while Hamas and affiliated groups have carried out counterattacks and continued resistance operations. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply, with significant damage to residential areas, hospitals, and essential infrastructure.

The latest strike reflects Israel’s continued strategy of targeting senior Hamas leadership in an effort to dismantle the group’s command structure. Over the course of the conflict, several high-profile figures, including political and military leaders of Hamas and allied groups, have been killed in Israeli operations. Despite these actions, the war has shown no clear sign of de-escalation, with both sides continuing military operations and diplomatic efforts remaining stalled.

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