Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on 27/5 that the country's military conducted a strike targeting Mohammed Odeh, the new commander of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, in the Rimal district of Gaza City the previous day.
Katz stated that Odeh was killed in the attack, adding that Israel would continue to pursue those it accuses of being behind the 7/10/2023 attack.
Gaza Civil Defense reported that at least three people were killed and 20 injured in the Israeli strike on the Rimal district of Gaza City on the night of 26/5.
This strike occurred less than two weeks after Israel announced the killing of Odeh's predecessor, Ezzedine al-Haddad, in a nighttime airstrike on Gaza City.
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Mohammed Odeh (right) during a meeting with three Hamas leaders: Rafa’a Salameh, Abu Obeida, and Mohammed Deif. Photo: ToI |
"We are committed to eliminating all who directed the 7/10 massacre and will certainly succeed. All have been marked for death, no matter where they are," Katz stated.
Over the years, Israel has killed many senior Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Mohammed Sinwar.
The Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security agency believe Odeh was appointed commander of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades after Ezzedine al-Haddad was killed on 15/5.
Before Haddad's assassination in mid-May, Odeh was reportedly the head of Hamas's intelligence agency. Hamas has not commented on this information.
The Israeli Defense Minister reiterated the goal of ending Hamas's control in the Gaza Strip, mentioning plans to relocate Palestinian civilians from the territory despite international opposition.
"The voluntary migration plan from Gaza will be implemented. Everything will happen at the right time and in the appropriate way," he said.
The idea of relocating Gaza residents has previously been supported by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from the far-right faction in the Israeli government. US President Donald Trump also previously expressed agreement with this proposal but appears to have changed his stance in recent statements.
Following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7/10/2023, which killed 1,221 people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hunt down and eliminate key Hamas leaders. According to Gaza health authorities, Israel's response operation in the territory has killed at least 72,803 people.
Thanh Danh (According to AFP, ToI)
