Gaza/Tel Aviv – Israel has announced that Abu Obeida, the masked spokesman of Hamas’s military wing, has been killed in an airstrike on Gaza City. Hamas has not confirmed his death, but local reports say several civilians were also killed in the attack.
Israeli Strike in Gaza City
According to Israel’s defence minister, the strike was a “flawless execution” carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and security agency Shin Bet. The military said the attack was based on prior intelligence that identified Obeida’s hiding place.
Five missiles hit a residential building in the crowded al-Rimal neighbourhood, targeting a flat that had been used as a dentist’s surgery. Witnesses reported children among the casualties, with at least seven people killed and 20 injured.
Residents described scenes of panic, with terrified civilians fleeing as smoke filled the streets. “I saw injured children with blood covering their faces, and people were running in every direction as if the world had ended,” a local barber told the BBC.
Role of Abu Obeida
Obeida, thought to be around 40 years old, was one of the last surviving senior members of Hamas’s armed wing from before the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. Always masked in public, he became a prominent figure delivering long speeches against Israel on behalf of the al-Qassam Brigades.
In what may have been his final statement a day earlier, Obeida warned Israel that the fate of remaining hostages in Gaza would mirror that of Hamas fighters if Israel invaded Gaza City.
Wider Military Context
The strike comes ahead of Israel’s planned offensive to seize Gaza City, a move that has drawn international concern. Israel says the goal is to end the nearly two-year-long conflict with Hamas, but the UN has warned that a full takeover could have “catastrophic consequences” for civilians and hostages.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas despite global criticism. Israel’s campaign began after Hamas’s 7 October attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 being taken hostage.
Since then, more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The vast majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and conditions of famine were confirmed in Gaza City last week.
Humanitarian Crisis
Over 90% of Gaza City’s homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. Essential services including healthcare, water, and sanitation have collapsed, leaving civilians in desperate conditions as Israeli strikes continue.
Source: BBC News
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