Israel announced it killed Mohammad Odeh, the newly appointed commander of Hamas’s military wing, in an airstrike on Gaza City. The strike hit the Rimal neighborhood on May 26-27, just days before the Eid al-Adha holiday, and local sources reported at least three casualties.
Odeh had been leading the Al-Qassam Brigades for barely a week. His predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was killed earlier this month, making Odeh’s tenure one of the shortest in the militant group’s history. Israeli officials described Odeh as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, placing him near the top of their target list from the moment he took the role.
A pattern of leadership decapitation
The speed of Odeh’s appointment, coming on May 19, tells you something about the pressure Hamas is under. Replacing a killed commander within days suggests the group is prioritizing continuity of command, even if it means elevating figures who may not have the same operational depth as their predecessors.
Hamas did not immediately confirm Odeh’s death following the Israeli announcement. The group has historically delayed confirming the loss of senior leaders, sometimes by weeks, as it manages internal communications and assesses operational fallout.
