Israel kills new head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza City strike

GAZA, Occupied Palestine (MNTV) — The commander of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Odeh, was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, days after his predecessor died in a similar attack.

At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured in the attack, which hit a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas, local medics and witnesses said.

Hamas has yet to issue an official statement, but a local Hamas source and relatives said Odeh and his wife were killed along with their son.

Despite the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreed in October, Israeli violence in Gaza has continued on a near-daily basis.

Tuesday’s strike hit the upper three floors of the al-Kayali building in the centre of Gaza City, where streets were busy with shoppers ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene of the strikes but struggled to reach the upper floors because of the scale of the damage.

Witnesses said at least five missiles struck the building almost simultaneously from different directions.

One resident said he heard the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead before the attack.

The family said Odeh’s son died of his wounds in hospital on Wednesday morning.

Odeh’s predecessor as commander of the group’s armed wing, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was killed by Israel earlier in May.

Israel has conducted regular strikes across Gaza since a ceasefire began on 10 October.

Hamas has reported the killing of more than 900 people in Israeli strikes during the ceasefire.