Hamas says an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City has killed the head of its military wing, just days after he was appointed to the role.
In a statement released Wednesday, Hamas confirmed that Mohammed Odeh was killed on Tuesday alongside his wife and two of their children when a strike hit a busy market area in Gaza City. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had earlier said the military had successfully targeted and killed him.
Local hospitals reported that at least five people died in the attack and another 12 were wounded. The strike took place just hours before Eid al-Adha, one of the most important Muslim holidays.
By Wednesday, large crowds had gathered in Gaza City for the funeral of Odeh’s family. Mourners wrapped the bodies in green Hamas flags and carried them through the streets after prayers at a nearby mosque. Some participants fired shots into the air as they marched, while others held posters describing Odeh as a senior figure in Hamas’ Qassam Brigades.
Hamas said Odeh had been active in the group for more than 30 years and was part of the early generation that helped build its military structure.
Israeli officials described him differently. Defense Minister Katz called Odeh “one of the architects” of the October 7, 2023 attacks and said he was the fourth leader of Hamas’ military wing to be killed since that assault. His predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was killed earlier this month.
Katz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both warned that Israel would continue targeting Hamas leaders linked to the October 7 attack.
The killing came as Muslims across the region prepared for Eid al-Adha, a holiday usually marked by celebration, family gatherings, and shared meals.
But in Gaza, the mood remains grim. Most residents are still displaced, living in overcrowded tents or damaged buildings after months of war. Aid groups estimate that around 90% of Gaza’s population has lost their homes.
Across the territory, Eid prayers were held in damaged mosques and open spaces, but celebrations were minimal. In some areas, small clusters of balloons were one of the few visible signs of the holiday.
“This isn’t Eid… we’re living like the dead,” said Mahmoud Saqer, a displaced man from Khan Younis.
Another resident, Ayda Al-Banna, who lost family members in the war, said bluntly: “There is no Eid. My children were killed. Eid is only for those who haven’t lost anyone.”
A ceasefire agreement reached in October remains in place but unstable. Palestinian health officials say more than 880 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since then, while Israel says its actions target ceasefire violations and threats.
The war began after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken.
Since then, Gaza’s health ministry says more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed, though it does not separate civilian and militant deaths.
