Hamas Military Commander Mohammed Odeh Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza City

Hamas military commander Mohammed Odeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, only days after the death of his predecessor in a similar attack.

According to local medics and witnesses, at least three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured after the strike hit a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas.

The Israel Defense Forces and Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said the operation targeted buildings used as a hideout by Odeh after months of intelligence surveillance tracking his movements.

Although Hamas has not released an official statement, a Hamas source and family members confirmed that Odeh, his wife, and later their adult son were killed in the attack.

Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas agreed upon in October, near-daily violence has continued across Gaza. Tuesday’s strike hit the upper floors of the al-Kayali building in central Gaza City as crowds filled the streets ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Rescue workers struggled to reach victims because of the severe destruction and heavy congestion in the area. Witnesses reported that at least five missiles struck the building almost simultaneously from different directions, while one resident said a helicopter was heard hovering moments before the attack.

Footage from the scene showed ambulances and civil defence teams searching through the wreckage as crowds gathered nearby.

In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet said the strike was part of an operation to eliminate Mohammed Odeh and also targeted “a nearby apartment belonging to a Hamas terrorist who raided on October 7 and was part of Odeh’s circle of assistants.”

A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Odeh as “one of the architects of the October 7 massacre,” accusing him of involvement in killings, abductions, and attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Odeh’s predecessor, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was also killed in an Israeli strike earlier in May that targeted another residential building and reportedly killed at least three people.

Israel has continued carrying out regular strikes in Gaza despite the ceasefire that began on 10 October. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the truce and targeting civilians, while Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 900 people have been killed in Israeli attacks during the ceasefire period.

Israel insists it has the right to target Hamas operatives and accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire by refusing to disarm.

Efforts tied to a US-backed peace plan for Gaza have stalled since the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran earlier this year. The proposed second phase of the plan included a transitional technocratic administration for Gaza alongside demilitarisation and reconstruction efforts, but negotiations over disarmament remain at a standstill.

Meanwhile, Hamas has reportedly reactivated its police force and appears to be reasserting control within Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel remains determined to stop Hamas from governing Gaza “either civilly or militarily.”

Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would continue pursuing everyone involved in the October 7 attack, stating: “Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all.”

The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. Israel’s military response has devastated large parts of Gaza and displaced much of its 2.1 million population. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 72,800 people have been killed during the conflict, figures considered reliable by the UN.

The latest strike in Gaza came shortly after Israeli attacks in Lebanon reportedly killed 31 people. Netanyahu has pledged to intensify military action against Hezbollah, while Israel’s military says the strikes targeted Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.