Israel targeted the new leader of Hamas’s military wing in a Gaza airstrike late Tuesday after he filled his late predecessor’s shoes about one week ago.Mohammed Odeh was attacked, but Israeli officials did not say if he was killed. A statement from the prime minister’s office said he was “struck.” Typically, the Israeli military says a target was “eliminated” if they died from a strike.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the operation.
Odeh replaced Ezzedine al Haddad, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza less than two weeks ago. Odeh led Hamas’s intelligence staff during the massacre and abduction of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israel.
“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement before commending the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Air Force for executing the operation.
“We will continue to pursue anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre,” the office added. “Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all.”
Earlier Tuesday, the IDF shared a video revealing that about 11 kilometers, or nearly seven miles, of underground tunnel routes used by Hamas in northern Gaza were “dismantled.”
