The Israeli military carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip aimed at Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed commander of Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the country said on Tuesday.
The operation comes 11 days after Israel killed his predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, in a similar strike.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out the strike in Gaza City's western Rimal neighborhood.
According to Israeli officials, Odeh previously served as Hamas's head of intelligence and was "one of the architects" behind the October 7, 2023, attacks. He was appointed to lead the military wing one week ago, following al-Haddad's death on May 15.
The strike, which hit a densely populated district, occurred on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Gaza's civil defense agency reported that the bombardment caused civilian casualties, including the death of at least one woman, and left 20 others injured.
Initial assessments from Israeli intelligence suggest the operation eliminated Odeh. Hamas has not yet commented on his status or the Israeli claims.
The strike continues Israel's campaign against Hamas senior leadership. Since the conflict began, Israel has claimed responsibility for killing several top Hamas figures, including political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, and long-time military commander Mohammed Deif.
