Israel Strikes Again: Hamas’ New Gaza War Chief May Be Dead
Israeli officials say Mohammed Odeh, recently appointed to replace slain Hamas commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was the target of a precision strike in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood.
Israel carried out a targeted strike in Gaza City on Tuesday night aimed at Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed head of Hamas’ military wing in the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the IDF had struck Odeh, describing him as the new commander of Hamas’ armed wing and “one of the architects” of the October 7 massacre. The strike took place in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, the same area where Israel recently killed Odeh’s predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad.
Israeli assessments were growing Tuesday night that the strike may have achieved its objective, though there was no immediate official confirmation that Odeh had been killed. Hamas had not publicly confirmed the result of the strike or Odeh’s reported appointment at the time of publication.
According to Israeli officials, Odeh was appointed only recently after al-Haddad was killed in an Israeli strike earlier this month. Odeh previously served as head of Hamas’ intelligence apparatus and was considered one of the few remaining senior figures from the group’s October 7 leadership structure.
Israeli officials said Odeh played a major role in Hamas’ intelligence preparations before the October 7 attack, including efforts to identify vulnerabilities in the Gaza Division. He was also reportedly close to al-Haddad and involved in efforts to reorganize Hamas’ military structure after the deaths of several senior commanders.
The strike reportedly hit a building in Rimal at around 8:30 p.m. local time. Palestinian reports cited by international agencies said at least three people were killed and more than 20 were wounded, though those figures could not immediately be independently verified.
Netanyahu and Katz said Israel would continue pursuing those involved in the October 7 massacre.
“Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all,” the Israeli leaders said, according to their joint statement.
The attempted strike on Odeh comes less than two weeks after Israel eliminated al-Haddad, who had succeeded other slain Hamas military leaders and was considered deeply involved in the captivity of Israeli hostages. Israel has repeatedly said that its campaign will continue until Hamas’ remaining October 7 commanders are found and eliminated.