Israel Defence Forces eliminated Mohammed Odeh in Gaza, the new leader of Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre.According to a joint statement issued on Tuesday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, Odeh served as head of Hamas intelligence during the October 7 massacre and was appointed approximately one week ago as successor to Ezzedine Al-Haddad, who was eliminated in an IDF strike in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago. Odeh was also responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers.Gaza’s civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas, meanwhile, said at least three people were killed and 20 wounded in an Israeli airstrike in the Rimal neighbourhood in western Gaza City.Benjamin Netanyahu also shared the confirmation in an X post, vowing to eliminate all involved in the October 7, 2023, massacre.Since Hamas’s cross-border assault, the Israeli military and intelligence services have waged a campaign targeting the group’s senior political leaders and militant commanders in Gaza and across the region.As per AP, the IDF also killed Yahya Sinwar, widely regarded as a key mastermind behind the October 7 attack, Hamas’s former political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, the longtime commander of Hamas’s armed wing.Israeli strikes have also targeted Hamas operatives in Lebanon, as well as senior Iran-backed Hezbollah commanders allied with the group, including former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.In the aftermath of the October 7 assault, Netanyahu pledged to target and eliminate the masterminds behind the attacks, which, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people. Israel’s retaliatory response in Gaza has killed at least 72,803 people, according to the territory’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority.Meanwhile, Israel continued its strikes in southern Lebanon after ramping up its operations on Monday. “Two air strikes hit Burj Rahal, and a powerful strike was reported in Kawthariyat al-Ruz, in the Tyre district. The Israeli military also launched two air strikes on the town of Srifa, and one on Burj Rahal, in the Tyre district. Three raids were reported in the town of as-Sawana and one in Qabrikha, in the Marjayoun district, Al Jazeera reported.
Should international communities intervene in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
“We are at war with Hezbollah. Just in recent weeks, our brave fighters have eliminated more than 600 terrorists,” Netanyahu said in a video statement. “But we are not taking our foot off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed them to press the pedal even harder.”
