Hamas Military Commander Mohammed Odeh Killed in Gaza Airstrike

Hamas military commander Mohammed Odeh has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, just days after his predecessor was also killed. The strike hit a residential building, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring dozens. Israel said it targeted Hamas hideouts after months of surveillance, while Hamas has not issued an official statement. Family members confirmed Odeh and his relatives were killed. The incident comes despite a ceasefire, with continued violence and mutual accusations of violations.

The commander of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Odeh, has been killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, just days after his predecessor died in a similar attack.
At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured when the strike hit a residential building in a busy market area of Gaza City, according to local medics and witnesses. The attack took place on Tuesday and struck the upper floors of the al-Kayali building, located in one of the city’s busiest commercial districts.
Israel’s military and the Shin Bet security service said the building was targeted after months of intelligence tracking Odeh’s movements. They said several structures in central Gaza City were used as hideouts and were struck during the operation. Israeli officials also claimed that another nearby apartment linked to a Hamas member involved in the October 7 attack was targeted.
Hamas has not issued an official statement, but a local source and family members confirmed that Odeh, his wife, and their adult son were killed. The son later died of his injuries in hospital, according to relatives, with the funeral held in Gaza City.
Witnesses said the strike involved multiple missiles hitting the building almost simultaneously, possibly from different directions. Some residents reported hearing a helicopter overhead shortly before the attack. Rescue teams struggled to reach the upper floors due to heavy damage and crowds in the area.
Footage from the scene showed emergency workers and civil defence teams searching through rubble while residents gathered nearby.
A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet described Odeh as a key militant figure and said the operation followed extensive surveillance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he was one of the planners of the October 7 attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 251 were taken hostage.
The killing comes despite a ceasefire agreed in October, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of violations. Palestinian health authorities say more than 900 people have been killed in Gaza during the ceasefire period, while Israel says it continues to target Hamas members and infrastructure.
Odeh’s predecessor as commander of Hamas’s armed wing was also killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in May, highlighting ongoing targeted killings of senior figures.
Meanwhile, wider negotiations on Gaza’s future remain stalled, despite a US-led peace plan that envisions a transitional administration, demilitarisation, and reconstruction. Talks over disarmament have made little progress, and Hamas has reportedly reasserted control in some areas through its police force.
Israeli officials have reiterated that Hamas will not be allowed to govern Gaza, either militarily or politically, while Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel will continue to pursue those involved in the October 7 attack.
The war, which began after the October 7 assault, has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza and displaced much of the population, with the humanitarian situation remaining critical.