Hamas spokesman Abu Obida was killed in Gaza, as Israel says

Israel said Abu Obida, a spokesman for the armed wing in Hamas, was killed in an air strike in Gaza City.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz congratulated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency, SHIN BET, on the “flawless execution” in a post on X.

There was no details of the time or location of the operation, but the Israeli Defense Army said earlier that its planes attacked a “major terrorist” in one neighborhood on Saturday, which prompted reports in the Israeli media that Obida was the goal.

Hamas did not confirm his death. The Palestinian Armed Group said earlier that dozens of civilians were killed and injured in Israeli strikes in a residential building in the area.

On Sunday, Katz warned that many “criminal partners” in Obeida will aim to “intensify the campaign in Gaza” – referring to a recent Israeli plan to control Gaza City.

Separately, IDF and Shin Bet provided more details about Saturday’s strikes that targeted Hamas spokesman.

They said in a joint statement that the operation “has become possible due to the previous intelligence collected by (Shen Pitt) and the Intelligence Directorate of the Israel Defense Army” that determined the place of its hide.

Five missiles of the second and third floor of the residential building consisting of six floors at the same time in two different directions.

The targeted apartment was used as a dentist surgery. Witnesses reported hundreds of thousands of dollars flying to the air due to the strike, as they stole large sums and later regained by Hamas members.

Obida was among the few members remaining in the military wing in Hamas by its deadly attack on October 7, 2023 in southern Israel.

The joint statement said that Obida “held the position of Hamas’s general face” and “spreading Hamas’s propaganda.”

Over the past few years, Obida – which is believed to be about 40 years old – has provided a number of long tools against Israel on behalf of Hamas Military Wing, the Qassam Brigades.

He was always masked in a Palestinian scarf, who became an idol of Hamas supporters throughout the Middle East.

In what may be his last speech on Friday, Obida said that the fate of the remaining Israeli hostages would be the same as Hamas fighters, which warns Israel against its planned invasion of Gaza City.

On Saturday, Hamas accused the Israeli Defense Army of hitting a residential building in the Alex neighborhood in the dense Gaza City.

Local journalists reported that at least seven people were killed and 20 were injured in the strikes, with children between losses.

The Israeli Defense Army said that before the attack, “many steps were taken to reduce the opportunity to harm civilians, including the use of accurate weapons, air notes and additional intelligence information.”

BBC News was unable to independently verify IDF or Hamas claims.

In early August, the security cabinet in Israel approved a plan to control Gaza City in a new attack, with a declared goal of making the war that lasted 22 months.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that a full military acquisition would risk “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The UK Ambassador told Israel that it would be “a big mistake.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to defeat Hamas and challenge international criticism for his plans to expand the war.

Israel’s military operation in Gaza began in response to the October 7 attack, led by Hamas, where about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken into account. Since then, more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health in Hamas.

While the seizure of Gaza City has not yet started seriously, the Israeli attacks on the city – where nearly a million people live – are continuing.

The Israeli army said it was planning to evacuate all residents of Gaza City and transfer it to shelters in the south before the forces moved. Most Gaza population has already been going down several times during the conflict.

It is estimated that more than 90 % of the city’s homes have been damaged or destroyed, and healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems collapsed.

Last week, The circumstances of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding areas were confirmed for the first time.