The New Commander: Intelligence Chief Takes Control of Gaza Following Az al-Din Haddad's Elimination
Hamas has appointed its military intelligence chief, Muhammad Oudeh, as the supreme commander of its forces in Gaza following the precise elimination of veteran leader Az al-Din Haddad.
The military command structure of Hamas inside the Gaza Strip has undergone a sudden reorganization following a devastating blow to its remaining leadership. According to reports from the regional news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, the terrorist organization has appointed its veteran military intelligence chief, Muhammad Oudeh, to lead the group's armed wing. Oudeh takes command after the high-profile elimination of the previous leader, Az al-Din Haddad.
Haddad was killed during a precise, joint surgical strike conducted by the air force and internal security services in Gaza City. Defense officials noted that Haddad was one of the final architects of the October 7th massacres still operating inside the enclave. He had spent the recent weeks attempting to reconstruct shattered combat units and plan fresh terror strikes against civilians.
Military sources revealed that Haddad had consistently managed to evade specialized capture teams by utilizing a ruthless defensive strategy. He actively integrated himself into the terrorist group's captive network, surrounding his operational hideouts with Israeli hostages to serve as human shields against incoming aerial bombardments. His elimination marks the total decimation of the group's veteran high command.
The new leader, Muhammad Oudeh, is one of the very last high-ranking Hamas figures who occupied a senior staff position during the initial October 7th atrocities. Oudeh's specific intelligence branch was responsible for mapping out the precise vulnerabilities of the border defenses, regular updates that were delivered directly to the central military council before the assault.
Oudeh was effectively the only viable candidate left alive to assume control of the terrorist organization's remnants. He is the last surviving member of the original military council, excluding home front commander Imad Aqel, who did not play an active role in planning the war. Oudeh has already survived multiple assassination attempts throughout the campaign.