Hamas confirms the death of five leaders of the group, after Israeli attacks in recent months
Abu Obaida (center), spokesman for the Ezzedin Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas, during statements to the media in Gaza City. Photo credit: Mahmud Hams / AFP / Profimedia
The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas (al-Qassam Brigades) officially confirmed on Monday the death of five high-ranking members in the Israeli attacks in recent months on the Gaza Strip, DPA and AFP agencies report, quoted by Agerpres.
Among those killed is the former spokesman of the Abu Obeida group, Mohammed al-Sinwar, the brother of Yehya al-Sinwar (considered the “mastermind” of the attacks on October 7, 2023), and the commander Raed Saad.
Israel announced Saad's death on December 13, and the military reported in June that it had found al-Sinwar's remains in a tunnel in Gaza.
Saad was allegedly the main planner of the October 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
In the military retaliatory campaign, Israel killed a number of Hamas leaders in Gaza, including Yehya al-Sinwar and commander Mohammed Deif. The political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Tehran last year.
The Israeli military continues to target the Hamas leadership in Gaza despite the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.
