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Israeli forces target Hamas commander in Gaza City
Israel announced the death of Mohammed Odeh, the military wing leader of Hamas, in an airstrike on Tuesday that struck a residential building in central Gaza City. The attack occurred amid ongoing ceasefire tensions.
Strike details and casualties
Local medics and witnesses reported at least three Palestinians killed and dozens injured after missiles hit the al-Kayali building during peak market hours ahead of Eid al-Adha. Rescue teams struggled to access the upper floors due to severe damage and crowd congestion.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet stated the operation followed months of surveillance tracking Odeh's movements. They also targeted an adjacent apartment linked to a Hamas operative involved in the October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
"Odeh was one of the architects of the October 7 massacre," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. "He was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers."
Ceasefire violations and broader conflict
This marks the second Hamas military commander killed by Israel in recent weeks. Odeh's predecessor, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, died in a similar airstrike in May. Both attacks struck residential buildings, raising concerns over civilian casualties.
Despite a ceasefire since October, Israel has continued targeted strikes in Gaza, citing the right to pursue Hamas operatives. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the truce, while Israel claims Hamas has failed to disarm. The Hamas-run health ministry reports over 900 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes during the ceasefire.
Wider regional tensions
The Gaza strike follows Israeli operations in Lebanon, where 31 people were killed in recent attacks targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Netanyahu has pledged to intensify military action against the group.
A U.S.-led peace plan for Gaza, announced in January, remains stalled. The proposal includes transitional governance and demilitarization, but disarmament talks have deadlocked. Meanwhile, Hamas has reinstated its police force, signaling a resurgence of its authority.
Human toll and Netanyahu's vow
The October 7 Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has left over 72,800 dead, according to the territory's health ministry, whose figures the UN considers credible. Much of Gaza lies in ruins, displacing most of its 2.1 million residents.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to pursuing those involved in the October 7 attacks, stating, "Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all."
