Israel says it has killed Mohammed Odeh, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, in an air strike in Gaza City. The attack happened on Tuesday, only days after Odeh’s predecessor was reportedly killed in a similar Israeli strike.
According to local medics and witnesses, at least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured in the latest attack. The strike hit a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas, where many people were shopping ahead of Eid al-Adha.
There has been no immediate response from Hamas regarding Israel’s claim.
Strike Hits Busy Gaza City Area
The attack struck the upper floors of the al-Kayali building in central Gaza City. Witnesses said several missiles hit the building almost at the same time from different directions.
Rescue teams arrived quickly, but the heavy damage and crowded streets made it difficult to reach the upper floors. Footage from the scene showed ambulances and civil defence crews working around the damaged building as people gathered nearby.
One resident said a helicopter had been heard above the area before the strike.
Israel Says Target Was Tracked for Months
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security service said the buildings were targeted because they had served as hiding places for Odeh. Israeli officials said his movements and those of his aides had been monitored for months before the operation.
Israel also said it struck a nearby apartment connected to a Hamas member it accused of taking part in the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described Odeh as one of the planners of the October 7 assault. Netanyahu said Israel would continue pursuing everyone involved in that attack.
Ceasefire Remains Under Strain
The strike is the latest Israeli attack in Gaza despite a ceasefire with Hamas that began on October 10. Israel says it still has the right to target Hamas members, while Hamas accuses Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and killing civilians.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 900 people have been killed in Israeli strikes during the ceasefire period.
Israel, meanwhile, accuses Hamas of failing to disarm, which it says violates the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Gaza Peace Plan Faces Delays
The later stages of a US-led peace plan for Gaza have not yet been fully implemented. Progress has slowed since the US and Israel began their war with Iran in February.
The second phase of the plan was announced in January and was expected to include a transitional technocratic administration, reconstruction of Gaza, and the demilitarisation of the territory.
However, talks over disarmament remain stuck. Hamas has also reactivated its police force and appears to be strengthening its control in parts of Gaza.
War Toll Remains Severe
The Gaza war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded with a major military campaign that devastated large parts of Gaza and displaced many of the territory’s 2.1 million residents.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli forces have killed more than 72,800 people in the territory. The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures reliable.
Regional Fighting Adds to Tensions
The latest strike in Gaza comes after Israeli attacks in Lebanon killed 31 people. Netanyahu has also promised to increase military action against Hezbollah.
Israel’s military says its strikes in Lebanon are aimed at Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure, but the wider fighting has raised fears that the conflict could continue spreading across the region.
For now, Israel’s claim that it killed Hamas’s new military commander adds another major point of tension to an already fragile ceasefire and a stalled peace process.