Israel's military said in a statement on Wednesday it had attacked and killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief, Mohammed Odeh who it said was appointed just days earlier after Israel killed his predecessor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had on Tuesday the military had struck Mohammad Odeh, whom he described as Hamas' new armed wing chief in Gaza, as it steps up military pressure in Gaza and expands ground operations in Lebanon.
Gaza health officials said three people, including a woman, were killed and more than 20 others were wounded in the Israeli strike that destroyed an upper floor of an apartment building in Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City. Rescue workers were still at the scene looking for more possible casualties.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas.
Netanyahu said Odeh had headed Hamas' intelligence division at the time of the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack into Israel and was appointed about a week ago to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the group's chief armed commander, who was killed by Israel on May 15.
Sources close to Hamas didn't confirm Odeh's appointment as the new military chief but agreed he was seen as Haddad's possible successor, as the group's chief of military intelligence and possibly the last remaining living member of the armed wing's higher leadership council.
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