Israel launched an airstrike in Gaza on Tuesday night that killed one of the top Hamas military chiefs responsible for planning the October 7 attacks against Israel.
Mohammed Odeh held the top military position for only 11 days, replacing Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who had also died in an Israeli military operation earlier in May. Odeh reportedly helped organize the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, and was deemed responsible for the deaths of other Israeli citizens in the years that followed during the Israel-Hamas war. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Hamas military leader was responsible for the deaths of many Israelis.
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“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction and injury of many Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” said Netanyahu.
Odeh was reportedly one of the last remaining Hamas leaders involved with the planning of the October 7 attacks, according to reports. It is also believed he led multiple operations for Hamas that led to the deaths of Israel’s soldiers in the war, and his death is considered a “significant blow” to the leadership of Hamas, hampering the terrorist organization’s rebuilding efforts as it continues its war against Israel, according to the Times of Israel.
Israel Defense Forces acknowledged Odeh’s death in a social media post on X, along with other Hamas military leaders who were killed in previous Israeli military operations.
“ELIMINATED: Mohammed Odeh – Head of Hamas’ Military Wing in a strike in northern Gaza,” read the post by the IDF.
The Washington Examiner previously reported about the targeted strike on Odeh but officials were unsure at the time if he survived the attack. Odeh’s wife and sons were also killed in the air strike.
“Odeh served as the Head of Hamas’ military wing following the elimination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad,” IDF noted. “As part of his role, he was responsible for planning and coordinating Hamas terrorists’ infiltration and attack targets during the October 7 Massacre.”
Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz congratulated Israel’s military forces and security agencies for their “brilliant execution” in the strike on Tuesday. He also reinforced his commitment to eliminating all leaders responsible for “the October 7 massacre.”
“The commander of Hamas terror organization’s military arm number 4 in Gaza was eliminated yesterday and sent to meet his partners in the depths of hell,” Katz said in a translated post on X early Wednesday morning.
“In the name of the Prime Minister and in my name, congratulations to the IDF and the Shin Bet for the brilliant execution,” Katz said. “We committed to eliminating everyone who led the October 7 massacre, and so it shall be: they are all sentenced to death, wherever they may be.”
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Katz also emphasized that Hamas will not “rule Gaza” and that Israel is committed to ensuring that does not happen.
“We committed that Hamas will not rule Gaza civilly or militarily, and so it shall be, and also the voluntary emigration plan from Gaza will be implemented — everything at the right timing and in the right manner,” Katz said.
