Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, has been killed in Gaza, says Israel

Israel has said Abu Obeida, Hamas' armed arm spokesman, has been killed in an air raid on Gaza City.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz praised the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel's Security Agency, Shin Bet, for the perfect “eczecution” in an X post, writes foreign media, records Telegrafi.

He did not elaborate on the timing or location of the operation, but the IDF earlier said its planes attacked “a key terrorist” in the al-Rimal neighbourhood Saturday, prompting reports in Israeli media that Obeida had been the target.

Hamas did not confirm his death. The Palestinian armed group earlier said dozens of civilians were killed and injured in Israeli attacks on a residential building in the neighbourhood.

Katz warned on Sunday that many more of Obama's “criminal partners will be targeted by “intensification of the campaign in Gaza” a reference for a recently approved Israeli plan to take over the Gaza City.

Meanwhile, privately, IDF and Shin Bet offered more details about Saturday's attacks targeting Hamas's spokesman.

They said in a joint statement that the operation was “made possible due to the preliminary intelligence gathered by [Shin Bet] and the IDF Intelligence Directorate” that had identified his hiding place.

Obeida was among the few remaining high-ranking members of Hamas' military arm since his deadly attack on October 7, 2023 in southern Israel.