Tel Aviv – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel carried out a strike targeting Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, reports 24brussels.
“We have struck the Hamas spokesman, the spokesman for this criminal and murderous organisation, Abu Obeida. I hope he is no longer with us, but I notice that there is no one on the Hamas side to clarify this matter,”
Netanyahu expressed during a government meeting that the outcome of the attack remains uncertain. He reiterated, “We still don’t know the final result. I hope he is no longer with us.”
On the previous day, Hamas confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, its military chief in Gaza, a few months after Israel claimed to have killed him in a strike in May. Specific details surrounding Sinwar’s death were not provided by Hamas, which instead shared images of him alongside other leaders, branding them as “martyrs.” Notably, Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, who played a key role in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and was subsequently killed in an armed confrontation with Israeli forces a year later.
Impact of Israel’s Campaign on Hamas Leadership
Israel’s recent military actions have led to the deaths of several high-ranking Hamas leaders, effectively crippling the group’s command structure. This series of targeted operations is designed to dismantle Hamas’s leadership hierarchy and curtail its ability to strategize and execute attacks.
In July 2024, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the death of Mohammed Deif, who was leading the military operations of Hamas through the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Deif was believed to be instrumental in planning the large-scale assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, Yahya Sinwar, a prominent political leader within Hamas and a key decision-maker, was killed in an engagement with Israeli forces in October 2024. The ongoing Israeli campaign continues to challenge the operational capabilities of Hamas significantly.
