Israeli military officials announced Wednesday that they eliminated Hamas’s recently named military commander in a Gaza operation, continuing their campaign against the organization’s leadership structure.
Military sources confirmed that Mohammad Odeh was killed during Tuesday’s operation in Gaza.
A family member verified Odeh’s death to news agencies and indicated funeral services would occur following midday prayers in Gaza City. While Hamas leadership has not released an official response, Odeh’s family stated he died alongside his wife and son in the attack.
Gaza medical authorities reported that six individuals, including at least one woman, lost their lives and more than 20 sustained injuries in the same Israeli airstrike that demolished the top floor of a residential building in Gaza City’s Rimal district. Emergency responders continued searching the area for additional victims.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday that Odeh had led Hamas’s intelligence operations during the October 7, 2023 cross-border assault on Israel that sparked the current Gaza conflict. According to Netanyahu, Odeh received his appointment roughly one week ago to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the organization’s top military leader, who was eliminated by Israeli forces on May 15.
Hamas-affiliated sources would not verify Odeh’s designation as the new military commander but acknowledged he was considered a likely candidate to replace Haddad, given his role leading military intelligence and his status as potentially the final surviving member of the armed wing’s senior command structure.
Prior to the attack, Israel declared it had broadened ground operations in Lebanon, where it has engaged Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters since launching strikes against Iran alongside the United States in late February. Israeli forces are also escalating military actions in the West Bank.
Israel and Hamas remain at an impasse in indirect negotiations regarding the second phase of a ceasefire agreement, which would involve the group’s disarmament and Israeli military withdrawals.
The October ceasefire left Israeli forces controlling more than half of Gaza, while Hamas maintains authority over a narrow strip of coastal area.
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared in a statement that Hamas would lose both civilian and military authority over Gaza and that plans for what he termed “voluntary migration” from the territory would be executed “at the right time and in the right way.”
Approximately 900 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks since the truce took effect, based on Gaza health ministry data that does not separate combatants from civilians.
Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same timeframe, according to military officials.
Israel has eliminated dozens of Hamas leaders and military personnel since the Gaza conflict began, pledging to kill or capture anyone involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Hamas does not release casualty figures for its fighters. Israel maintains its post-ceasefire strikes target those planning attacks or attempting to approach its armistice line with Hamas.
More than 72,000 Gazans have died since fighting commenced in October 2023, with most being civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Israel states it employs extraordinary measures to minimize civilian casualties.
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths, based on Israeli records.
