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Netanyahu confirms Israeli strike targeting Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that the Israeli army carried out a strike targeting Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas’ armed wing, without immediately clarifying whether he survived.
Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said in a statement, “We carried out a strike against the Hamas spokesperson (…) Abu Obaida.” He added, “I hope he is no longer among us, but I note that there is no one on the Hamas side to clarify this matter.”
The previous day, the Israeli army reported hitting a “key Hamas terrorist in Gaza City” without naming him, though Israeli media identified him as Abu Obaida. Hamas has not yet publicly responded to these reports.
Abu Obaida is considered a strategic target for Israel. In a statement attributed to him on Friday, the Hamas military spokesperson warned that hostages face the “same risks” as their fighters against Israeli troops preparing to launch an offensive on Gaza City.
He stated, “We will take care of the prisoners (hostages) as best we can, and they will be with our fighters in combat zones, subject to the same risks and living conditions. For each captive killed in the aggression, we will publish their name, photo, and proof of death.”
The Israeli army confirmed the death of one of its commanders, Mohammed Sinouar, on Sunday, three months after previously announcing his killing in a strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The ongoing Gaza conflict began with a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,400 people in Israel, mostly military personnel. Of the 251 people abducted that day, 47 remain held in Gaza, and 25 have been declared dead by the Israeli army. The Israeli retaliation campaign has caused at least 63,459 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health, and created a severe humanitarian crisis.