Israeli Army Announces Targeting Senior Hamas Figures in Gaza

The Israeli army announced late Wednesday that it had carried out strikes targeting what it described as “two senior Hamas figures” in Gaza City, in a continued escalation following the assassination of Hamas military commander Mohammad Odeh a day earlier.

Israeli Channel 14 reported that the strikes targeted the commander of Hamas’ Northern Gaza Brigade, the deputy commander of Gaza Brigade, and the commander of Al-Zaytoun Battalion. Meanwhile, Channel 12 stated that the attack focused on the commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade and his deputy.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least seven Palestinians, including two young girls, were killed and more than 20 others wounded after an Israeli airstrike hit a residential home in central Gaza City.

Medical sources in Gaza said the death toll from Israeli attacks since Wednesday morning had risen to 18.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli warplanes targeted an apartment inside a residential building surrounded by tents sheltering displaced families. Initial reports indicated that the apartment was struck by three missiles.

Israeli media reports cited by Al Jazeera suggested that the targeted figures were attending a meeting discussing the appointment of a successor to Mohammad Odeh, the newly announced Chief of Staff of Al-Qassam Brigades, who was killed Tuesday evening in an Israeli strike on Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood.

The latest strikes come amid an ongoing Israeli campaign targeting senior Hamas military leaders following the assassinations of senior commanders in recent weeks.

Earlier on Wednesday, Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed the death of Mohammad Odeh, describing him as its Chief of Staff and stating that the assassination of senior leaders would only strengthen its determination to continue resistance efforts.

Large crowds of Palestinians attended Odeh’s funeral after he was killed alongside his wife and two of his children in the Israeli strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously vowed to pursue all those involved in the October 7, 2023 attack.