Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammed Odeh; defiant funeral held in Gaza City
The Times of Israel • • general
Key Points:
- Hamas confirmed the death of Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed head of its military wing, killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza City, along with his wife and two children.
- Odeh had taken leadership just 11 days prior, succeeding Izz al-Din al-Haddad, and was identified by Israeli officials as a key planner of the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the current conflict.
- Israel has intensified efforts to eliminate Hamas leaders involved in the October 7 attacks, with Odeh described as one of the last senior commanders from the group's pre-war leadership.
- A funeral was held in Gaza City for Odeh and his family, where relatives vowed that the Palestinian struggle would continue despite Israeli military actions.
- Since the October ceasefire, Israel has continued targeted killings of Hamas operatives, with reports indicating around 900 Palestinians killed in Gaza, while Israeli military casualties remain low.