Israel kills new Hamas military commander in Gaza City strike during ceasefire
The strike occurred despite an ongoing truce with Hamas, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring dozens in a busy market area.
Israeli authorities confirmed the killing of Mohammed Odeh, the new commander of Hamas’s armed wing, in an airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City on Tuesday. The attack, described by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency as a joint operation, targeted the al-Kayali building in a busy market area after months of surveillance. At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in the strike, which hit the upper floors of the structure.
The incident has reignited tensions surrounding the ceasefire with Hamas, which has been in place since 10 October. While the Israeli government maintains it retains the right to target Hamas members, accusing the group of failing to disarm, the Palestinian health ministry reports that more than 800 people have died in Israeli strikes during the truce period. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of breaching the agreement by attacking civilians.
Odeh’s predecessor, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was killed in a similar strike earlier in May. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office described Odeh as one of the architects of the 7 October 2023 attacks, alleging he was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and soldiers. Israel stated it would continue to pursue anyone involved in the October 7 massacre, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
Witnesses reported that at least five missiles struck the al-Kayali building almost simultaneously from different directions, with one resident hearing a helicopter hovering overhead before the attack. Rescue teams struggled to reach the upper floors due to the scale of the damage and congestion in the area. The operation also targeted a nearby apartment belonging to a Hamas terrorist who raided on 7 October and was part of Odeh’s circle of assistants.
The strike follows escalating violence in the wider region, including 11 deaths from Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to step up military action. Meanwhile, the latter phases of a US-led peace plan for Gaza remain stalled. Progress has halted since the US and Israel started a war with Iran in February, with talks on disarmament deadlocked and Hamas reasserting its authority in the territory.
