Israel Targets Hamas’ New Military Chief as Gaza Conflict Escalates

Israel announced on Tuesday that it had launched a strike targeting Mohammad Odeh, identified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Hamas’ newly appointed armed wing chief in Gaza. The move comes just days after Israel said it killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the previous commander of Hamas’ military wing, as tensions continue to rise across Gaza and Lebanon.

According to Netanyahu, Odeh previously led Hamas’ intelligence division during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and was recently selected to replace Haddad. Israeli officials did not confirm whether Odeh was killed in the strike.

Gaza health authorities reported that an Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, killing at least three people, including a woman, and injuring more than 20 others. Emergency crews continued rescue operations amid fears that more victims could be trapped under the rubble. Hamas has not yet released an official statement regarding the attack or Odeh’s status.

Sources close to Hamas acknowledged that Odeh was viewed as a likely successor to Haddad and one of the remaining senior figures within the group’s military leadership. The development highlights Israel’s intensified campaign against Hamas leadership during the ongoing Gaza war.

The strike occurred shortly after Israel announced an expansion of its ground operations in Lebanon, signaling broader regional military activity. Meanwhile, indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled over issues including Hamas’ disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, Gaza health officials say more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed, while Israeli reports state that around 1,200 people died during Hamas’ initial cross-border attacks. The war continues to fuel instability across the Middle East as diplomatic efforts struggle to secure a lasting ceasefire.