Arabic version: غارة جوية إسرائيلية تودي بحياة قائد عسكري من حماس في غزة

Israel has announced the death of Mohammed Odeh, the leader of Hamas’s military wing, following an airstrike in Gaza City on May 27, 2026. This strike comes as the fragile ceasefire in the region continues to face challenges. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli officials confirmed that Odeh was targeted as part of an operation that involved extensive intelligence gathering.

The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, declared on social media that Odeh, who had recently taken over leadership of the Qassam Brigades after the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was eliminated in the attack. Katz emphasized that Odeh was a significant figure in Hamas’s military strategy, allegedly involved in planning attacks against Israel.

The airstrike reportedly caused substantial destruction in the Remal neighborhood, where residents were preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Local sources indicated that six individuals were killed and approximately 20 others were injured due to the strike, which occurred during a busy shopping period in the area.

The Israeli military stated that Odeh was among the last senior commanders involved in the planning and execution of the October 7 attacks, which led to significant retaliation from Israel. Since the onset of the conflict, the death toll in Gaza has escalated, with over 72,803 reported fatalities, according to Palestinian health authorities. The violence continues to escalate despite the ceasefire declared in October 2023.