Israel has announced the killing of Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, in an airstrike on Gaza City, though Hamas has yet to confirm his death.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz praised the operation, calling it a “flawless execution” by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency. Officials said the strike was enabled by prior intelligence that pinpointed Obeida’s hiding place.
The assault targeted a six-storey residential building in Gaza’s al-Rimal neighbourhood, with five missiles striking simultaneously. Local journalists reported that at least seven civilians were killed and 20 others injured, including children. Hamas accused Israel of bombing a residential area and said “dozens” of civilians were affected.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes. Mohammed Emad, who runs a nearby barbershop, said, The blasts were terrifying, I couldn’t move for more than an hour. I saw injured children with blood covering their faces, and people running in every direction as if the world had ended.”
Obeida, believed to be around 40 years old, had long been the masked public face of the Hamas military wing, al-Qassam Brigades. He was one of the few surviving senior figures from before Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage.
In what may have been his final speech on Friday, Obeida warned that the fate of Israeli hostages would mirror that of Hamas fighters if Israel launched its planned offensive into Gaza City.
The IDF insisted “many steps were taken to reduce civilian harm,” including precision weapons and surveillance. However, footage verified showed bloodied children and terrified residents fleeing the rubble.
The strike comes ahead of Israel’s approved plan to seize control of Gaza City, where nearly one million civilians remain. The UN and foreign governments, including the UK, have warned that such an operation risks “catastrophic consequences” for civilians and hostages.
Gaza has already seen near-total devastation after 22 months of war. The Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 63,000 Palestinians killed, while Israel maintains its campaign is necessary to “defeat Hamas” and ensure security.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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