Israel Bombards Gaza on Eid al-Adha Night, Claims Hamas Commander Killed

During deadly strikes on Gaza on Eid al-Adha night, Israel claimed to have killed Mohammed Awda, described as the new commander of Hamas’s armed wing. According to detikNews on Wednesday (27 May 2026), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz stated that the Israeli military targeted Awda in an airstrike in Gaza City. Israel accused Awda of being appointed as the new commander of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, though Hamas and the Qassam Brigades have not commented on the claim.

The Israeli claim follows a large-scale bombing in densely populated areas of central Gaza City during Eid al-Adha. Medical sources reported that the attack killed a Palestinian woman and injured others. Israeli airstrikes also hit the Al-Maghazi area in central Gaza, as reported by AFP on Tuesday (26 May). The Gaza Civil Defence, operating as a Hamas-run rescue service, stated: “Five martyrs and several wounded were transferred to hospital after Israeli airstrikes targeted a group of civilians in eastern Al-Maghazi.”

This comes amid growing warnings from Israeli analysts and opposition figures that Netanyahu may be pursuing further escalation in Gaza for domestic political interests, linked to the potential dissolution of the Knesset and early elections. Israel has killed more than 72,000 people and injured over 172,000 in two years of attacks since October 2023, causing widespread destruction affecting 90% of civilian infrastructure before the ceasefire was announced last October.