Hamas’s armed wing spokesman Abu Obida has been killed in an air strike in Gaza city, said by Israel.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katj congratulated the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s Security Agency, Shin Bet for “innocent execution” in a post on X.
He did not give any details at the time of the operation or at the location, but the IDF earlier said that his aircraft attacked a “major terrorist” in the al-rim neighborhood on Saturday, inspiring reports in the Israeli media that Obida’s goal.
Hamas has not confirmed his death. The Palestinian armed group earlier said that dozens of civilians were killed and injured in Israeli attacks on a residential building in the district.
Katz warned on Sunday that several more “criminal partners” of Obieda would be targeted with “intensity of campaign in Gaza” – reference to recently approved Israeli scheme to seize the control of Gaza city.
Separately, IDF and Shin Bet gave more information about Saturday’s attacks, which targeted Hamas spokesperson.
He said in a joint statement that the operation was made possible due to “prior intelligence information. [Shin Bet] And the IDF’s Directorate of Intelligence “identified their hiding place.
Obida was one of the remaining senior members of Hamas’s military wing before 7 October 2023 on 7 October 2023 on Southern Israel.
Five missiles attacked the second and third floors of the six-storey apartments in the Al-Rimal Neberhood building together with two different directions.
The flat that was targeted was used as a dentist’s surgery. The witnesses reported to see hundreds of thousands of dollars flying in the air after the strike, which had a huge amount stolen by the local people, but was later recovered by Hamas.
The joint statement stated that Obida “served as the public face of the Hamas terrorist organization” and “Hamas” propagation.
Over the years, Obida – is believed to have been about 40 years old – Hamas’s military wing, Al -Casam Brigade, gave many long dietrbs against Israel.
Always masked in a Palestinian dupatta, he became an idol for Hamas supporters all over the Middle East.
His final speech may be on Friday, Obida said that the remaining Israeli hostages would be similar to Hamas fighters, which warns Israel against his planned attack of Gaza city.
Local journalists said that at least seven people were killed and 20 were injured in attacks on the al-riml neighborhood with a densely populated al-rich neighbor among the casualties.
Mohammad Imad, who runs just 100 meters (328 ft) from the site, told the BBC that “the explosions were terrible – I couldn’t go for more than an hour”.
He said: “I can’t believe that I am still alive. I saw the injured children covering my face, and people were walking in every direction as if the world had ended.”
The IDF stated that before the attack “several steps were taken to reduce the possibility of damaging citizens, including the use of accurate weapons, air observation and additional intelligence information”.
The BBC News has been unable to verify the claims of IDF or Hamas independently.
In early August, Israel’s security cabinet approved the plan to seize the control of Gaza city in a new aggressive, with the aim of ending a 22 -month long war.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that a full military acquisition will risk “horrific results” for the Palestinian citizens and Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The UK ambassador to Israel has said that this would be a “big mistake”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and defied his international criticism of his plans to expand the war.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, according to the Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 63,000 Palestinians have died.
While the operation to catch Gaza City has not yet started in Bayana, the city is running an Israeli attack – where about one million people live – are running.
A local resident told the BBC that the same apartment building was already killed months ago in the Israeli air strike.
The Israeli army has said that it is planning to vacate the entire population of Gaza City and take her to shelters in the south before going inside the soldiers. Most of Gaza’s population has already been displaced several times during the conflict.
The city is estimated to be damaged or destroyed in over 90% of homes, and healthcare, water, hygiene and hygiene systems have collapsed.
Last week, For the first time, famine conditions were confirmed in Gaza city and its surrounding areas.
