Muhammad Odeh, the newly appointed leader of Hamas’s military wing and one of the alleged architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday, according to Israeli officials. The strike occurred on the eve of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s most significant holidays.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed Odeh’s death. Three other people were also reportedly killed in the strike.
Odeh’s killing came less than two weeks after Israel announced the elimination of the previous head of Hamas’s military wing, Izz al-Din al-Haddad. During the October 7 attacks, Odeh headed Hamas’s intelligence unit and was later appointed chief of the group’s military wing following al-Haddad’s death.
Israeli officials accused Odeh of involvement in the killing, abduction, and injury of numerous Israeli civilians and soldiers during the October 7 assault.
“We have now struck Muhammad Odeh — the leader of Hamas’s military wing and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre. We will get to all of them,” Netanyahu said.
The October 7 attacks triggered a war that has continued for more than two years. According to Israeli authorities, around 1,200 people were killed in the attacks and more than 250 were taken hostage. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 72,700 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations since the conflict began.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire last October, but the truce has remained fragile, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of violations.
According to Palestinian officials, Israeli strikes have killed more than 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire came into effect. Israel maintains that its operations are carried out in response to Hamas violations or perceived threats to Israeli forces.
