Israel Claims New Hamas Military Commander Killed
The Israeli military has intensified new attacks targeting the new head of Hamas’ armed wing, Mohammed Awda, in a Gaza strike yesterday. Israel has recently claimed success in the mission, stating Awda was killed in the attack.
According to AFP and Anadolu Agency, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Israel initially intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip. This followed several days after his predecessor was killed in a similar strike.
Israel Targets Mohammed Awda
Israel stated it targeted the new head of Hamas’ armed wing in a Gaza strike, under the direct command of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz, the IDF has just carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Mohammed Odeh – the new commander of Hamas’ military wing and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre,” according to a joint statement released by Netanyahu and Katz, AFP reported.
It is noted that Odeh, also known as Awda, was appointed head of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigade after his predecessor, Ezzedine Al-Haddad, was killed in a Gaza strike in early May.
The Gaza Civil Defence, operating as a rescue service under Hamas, reported that a woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City.
“Odeh served as Hamas’ intelligence chief during the October 7 massacre and was appointed around a week ago to replace Ezzedine Al-Haddad,” according to Netanyahu and Katz’s statement.
“Odeh is responsible for the killing, abduction, and injury of numerous Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” the statement added.
Awda Claimed Dead
Hours later, Israeli forces claimed to have killed Awda. He died in a major Israeli bombing that struck a densely populated area in central Gaza City on the night of Eid al-Adha.
In addition to Awda, the strike reportedly killed another Palestinian woman and injured several others, according to medical sources.
Neither Hamas nor its armed wing, the Qassam Brigade, have commented on Israel’s claim.
“Five martyrs and several injured have been transferred (to hospital) following an Israeli airstrike targeting a group of civilians in the eastern Al-Maghazi area,” according to the Gaza Civil Defence statement, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas.
Israel is known to have killed more than 72,000 people and injured over 172,000 in two years of brutal attacks since October 2023, which also caused widespread destruction affecting 90% of civilian infrastructure, before a ceasefire was announced last October.