Israel kills newly appointed Hamas armed wing chief in Gaza strike

On Wednesday, Israel reported the death of Mohammad Odeh, the newly designated leader of Hamas' military faction in Gaza, during an operation conducted on Tuesday. Odeh had taken over the position just a week prior, following the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed by Israeli forces on May 15. The Israeli military confirmed that Odeh was targeted in Gaza. A family member informed Reuters that the funeral would occur after noon prayers in Gaza City. While Hamas has yet to release an official statement, a family announcement indicated that Odeh, along with his wife and son, was killed. Gaza health officials noted that the strike resulted in six fatalities, including at least one woman, and over 20 injuries, with ongoing rescue efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Odeh had led Hamas' intelligence division during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war. Though sources close to Hamas did not officially confirm Odeh's military leadership role, they recognized him as a potential successor to Haddad and possibly the last surviving member of the armed wing's senior leadership council.