Israel said an air strike in Gaza City killed Mohammed Odeh, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, in an attack that struck a residential building in one of the city’s busiest districts ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations. The strike killed civilians, adding to the continuous Gaza ceasefire violations by Israel, since the truce took effect in October.
The Israeli military and Shin Bet security service said Odeh was targeted on Tuesday after months of intelligence surveillance tracking his movements and contacts. Israeli officials described him as one of the remaining senior Hamas commanders linked to the 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
Hamas had not issued an official statement by Wednesday afternoon, though a Hamas source and relatives told the BBC that Odeh, his wife and their adult son were killed in the strike.
The Israeli attack hit the al-Kayali building in Gaza City’s Remal neighbourhood shortly before Eid shopping crowds filled nearby streets and markets. Witnesses told the BBC that at least five missiles struck the upper floors of the residential building almost simultaneously from different directions.
According to local medical officials, at least three Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in the attack. Al Jazeera later reported that the death toll had risen to six.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation on Wednesday and claimed Odeh had been “eliminated”.
“The commander of Hamas terror organisation’s military arm number 4 in Gaza was eliminated yesterday,” Katz wrote on X.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Odeh was “one of the architects” of the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
The Israeli military said nearby buildings linked to Hamas operatives were also targeted during the operation.
Odeh reportedly became head of the Qassam Brigades earlier this month after Israel killed his predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, in another air strike in Gaza. Hamas never formally announced the leadership change.
The strike drew criticism from regional leaders as Israel keeps killing civilians in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Netanyahu a “tyrant” and accused Israel of escalating attacks during Eid al-Adha celebrations.
Israel has continued near-daily strikes across Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October, violating the truce by carrying out attacks on residential areas and civilians. Israel one-sidedly claims it retains the right to target Hamas members and military infrastructure during the ceasefire period.
The Gaza Government Media Office released a statement saying that Israel had committed more than 3,000 truce violations, including bombings, attacks on civilians and incursions into residential areas.
According to the statement and Gaza health authorities, more than 910 Palestinians have been killed and 2,700 wounded since the ceasefire began. Gaza’s health ministry says the overall death toll since the war started in October 2023 has passed 72,800.
Israel’s genocidal war against Palestine has displaced much of the territory’s population and destroyed large parts of its infrastructure, and restrictions on humanitarian aid continue to block supplies of food, water, fuel and medicine from entering Gaza.
During the war, Israeli forces have killed several senior Hamas leaders, including former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and longtime military commander Mohammed Deif.
The latest strike came as violence also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli attacks killed dozens of people this week amid renewed clashes with Hezbollah. Israeli forces have also been illegally occupying parts of southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials said operations against Hamas leadership would continue.
“Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all,” Netanyahu said.
helsinkitimes.fi
