The Israeli military launched a targeted airstrike on Saturday aimed at Abu Obeida, the masked spokesperson of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in Gaza City. The operation, confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet, struck a residential building in the al-Rimal neighborhood, where Obeida was reportedly present.

Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism that the strike may have eliminated the high-profile figure, though his death has not yet been confirmed. Abu Obeida, whose real name is Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, has long served as the symbolic voice of Hamas’s military operations and propaganda efforts.

The attack comes amid escalating tensions in Gaza, where Hamas has intensified threats against Israeli forces and vowed to hold hostages in combat zones. In a recent video statement, Obeida warned that Israeli captives would remain alongside fighters, exposed to the same risks as the conflict deepens.

Palestinian media reported multiple casualties from the strike, with at least seven people killed and several others wounded. The IDF stated that it used precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance to minimize civilian harm.

This marks one of the most direct attempts by Israel to eliminate a senior Hamas media figure, signaling a shift in strategy toward dismantling the group’s leadership and communications apparatus.