Israeli Strike Kills Hamas Military Leader Mohammed Odeh
Israel announced it killed Mohammed Odeh, the commander of Hamas's armed wing, in a strike in Gaza City on Tuesday. This occurred just days after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack.
Local medics and witnesses reported that at least three Palestinians died and dozens were injured in the major strike, which targeted a residential building located in one of Gaza City's busiest market districts.
The Israeli security agency Shin Bet, along with the military, stated that the buildings used as Odeh's hideout were targeted following months of surveillance tracking his movements.
This strike represents the latest deadly Israeli operation in Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement with Hamas currently being in effect.
The attack damaged the upper three floors of the al-Kayali building situated in central Gaza City, an area bustling with shoppers preparing for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet issued a joint statement:
"As part of the joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet to eliminate the terrorist Muhammad 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."
They further noted that they also struck "a nearby apartment belonging to a Hamas terrorist who raided on October 7 and was part of Odeh's circle of assistants."
Rescue teams arrived promptly at the scene but faced difficulties reaching the upper floors due to extensive damage and congestion in the area.
Witnesses described hearing at least five missiles strike the building almost simultaneously from multiple directions.
One resident reported hearing the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead prior to the attack.
Video footage from the scene showed ambulances and civil defense crews searching through the damaged structure as crowds gathered nearby.
Official Statements and Background
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the IDF targeted Mohammed Odeh, calling him "one of the architects" of Hamas's attacks on 7 October 2023.
"Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers," the statement said.
Odeh's predecessor as commander of Hamas's armed wing, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in May. That strike also targeted a residential building and resulted in at least three fatalities, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
Since the ceasefire began on 10 October, Israel has conducted regular strikes across Gaza. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire terms and targeting civilians. The Palestinian territory's health ministry reports over 800 deaths caused by Israeli strikes during the ceasefire period.
The Israeli government asserts it retains the right to target Hamas members and accuses Hamas of breaching the ceasefire by refusing to disarm.
Context of the Ceasefire and Peace Efforts
The later stages of a US-led peace plan for Gaza have not yet been implemented, with progress stalled since the US and Israel initiated conflict with Iran in February.
The US announced the second phase of the plan in January, which includes governance of Gaza by a transitional technocratic administration, alongside demilitarisation and reconstruction efforts.
However, discussions on disarmament remain deadlocked. Meanwhile, Hamas has reactivated its police force and appears to be reasserting control over Gaza.
In Tuesday's statement, Israel declared it would "continue to pursue anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre."
Approximately 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led attack on that date, with 251 others taken hostage.
Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, which devastated much of the territory and displaced many of its 2.1 million residents.
According to Hamas-run Gaza health ministry figures, considered reliable by the United Nations, Israeli forces have killed more than 72,744 people in Gaza.
Regional Developments
The recent Israeli attack on Gaza follows strikes in Lebanon that killed 11 people. Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged to intensify military operations in the region. Israel's military reports that its attacks have targeted Hezbollah sites.
