Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida killed in airstrikes, Israel claims

If confirmed, his death would be the latest in a string of assassinations against key figures in the Palestinian group.

Mr Obeida was the longtime spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz made the announcement on X on Sunday, August 31, congratulating the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel's security agency, Shin Bet.

Neither Hamas, nor its armed wing - known as the Qassam Brigades - have responded to the claims.

As recently as Friday, Mr Obeida has promised that Israel would “pay the price” with “its soldiers' blood” if they pushed through with their offensive in Gaza City. Mr Obeida's statement was carried by the official Hamas news media.

On Saturday, August 30, Israeli strikes claimed to target a key Hamas figure in the Gaza City neighbourhood of al-Rimal. At least seven people were killed and 20 were injured, according to local journalists. Three Israeli officials identified the target as Mr Obeida.

Mohammed Emad, who runs a barbershop around 100m from where Israeli strikes hit, described the blasts as “terrifying”.

“I can't believe I'm still alive. I saw injured children with blood covering their faces, and people were running in every direction as if the world had ended."

Footage following the strikes show terrified residents fleeing, and an injured child being carried away from the scene, according to BBC reports.

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Mr Obieda's death comes as Israel ignores international calls to pause the conflict, pushing on with their operation to take over Gaza City.

The silence from the group is not unusual, with Hamas often taking weeks or months to concede the demise of group members.

Israel’s planned Gaza City offensive would force hundreds of thousands of already-displaced individuals to flee, and have been internationally condemned. They have also triggered protests in Israel over the welfare of the hostages still held by Hamas.

Mr Obedia, who never publicly showed his face, was one of the most widely-known represetnatives of the group. He often appeared masked in a red-checkered kaffiyeh and became a key symbol of Hamas’ military wing.

The name Abu Obeida meaning “Obeida’s father” - was a nom de guerre. Israeli and American officials identified him as Hudhayfa al-Kahlut, however his true identity was never confirmed by Hamas.

Israel said Mr Obeida “served as the public face of the Hamas terrorist organisation” and disseminated Hamas’ propaganda. The US sanctioned him in 2024, calling him Hamas’ “information warfare chief”.

Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023, the group became a prime target of the Israeli war aims, with the government vowing to destroy the armed group in Gaza.

Around 250 hostages were taken by Hamas during the attack, and 1,200 civilians were killed. Fewer than 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with only around 20 believed to remain alive.

Since 2023, Israel has killed many senior Hamas figures, who they claim are responsible for the attack.

Over two years of war, 60,000 people have been killed by Israel’s campaign in Gaza, including around 17,000 children, according to reports by Gaza’s ministry of health.

Many of the two million people living in Gaza have endured over 22 months of fear, hunger and bombardment, with 90 per cent displaced at least once already, according to the UN.

The news of Mr Obeida’s death comes weeks after a UN-backed panel of experts declared famine in Gaza City.

Israel disputes the claims of famine.