New Hamas Military Commander Killed in Gaza City Strike

The head of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Odeh, has been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City, only days after the death of the group’s previous military commander in a separate attack.

Local medics and witnesses said the strike, which took place on Tuesday, also left dozens of people injured after a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market districts was hit.

The Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency said the operation targeted buildings allegedly being used as a hideout by Odeh. According to a joint statement, Israeli forces had tracked his movements and those of his associates over several months before carrying out the strike.

On Wednesday, Hamas confirmed that Odeh had died in the attack along with his wife and two of his children.

Although a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was agreed in October, incidents of violence have continued to occur across the Gaza Strip on an almost daily basis, highlighting ongoing tensions despite international hopes for a more stable security situation.

Tuesday’s strike hit the top three floors of the al-Kayali building in central Gaza City, where crowds had gathered for shopping activities ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Emergency and rescue teams quickly moved to the scene to assist victims and search through the damaged structure. However, witnesses said rescue operations were slowed by severe destruction to the building and heavy congestion in the surrounding streets.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said: “As part of the joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet to eliminate the terrorist Mohammed Odeh, several buildings in the heart of Gaza City that served as a hideout for him were attacked, after months of intelligence surveillance in order to track his movements and the movements of his assistants in the organisation.”

The statement added that Israeli forces also struck “a nearby apartment belonging to a Hamas terrorist who raided on October 7 and was part of Odeh’s circle of assistants,” referring to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

The latest developments come as international mediators and humanitarian organisations continue to push for renewed efforts aimed at reducing violence and improving conditions for civilians affected by the prolonged conflict.