Hamas Spokesperson Labeled as Inactive by Defense Minister

In a significant development, Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced the death of Hamas' military wing spokesperson, Abu Obeida, in a recent attack in Gaza. However, Hamas has yet to officially confirm this news.

The attack took place in the west of Gaza City on Saturday, according to the Civil Defense, which reported at least seven deaths in the incident. The residential building targeted was located in the Rimal neighborhood, a formerly wealthy area.

Abu Obeida, a well-known representative of Hamas, was always seen veiled at appearances and video messages. His death, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to the Islamist group, as he was a key figure in communicating their military operations to the public.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the lack of confirmation from the Hamas side could indicate Abu Obeida's death. Netanyahu congratulated the army and the Shin Bet internal security service for the "perfect execution" of the operation.

Katz stated that Abu Obeida had been "neutralized" and was now "sent to the depths of hell." He also predicted that many of Abu Obeida's accomplices in Hamas would be killed in the upcoming campaign against Gaza.

It's important to note that since the start of the Gaza war nearly two years ago, Israel has killed numerous high-ranking Hamas leaders and commanders, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif. However, Abu Obeida's death has not been officially confirmed by either side.

The figures provided by the health authority controlled by Hamas suggest that almost 63,500 Palestinians have been killed and around 160,000 injured since the start of the Gaza war. These figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters of the terror organizations and cannot be independently verified, but are considered credible by the UN.

Rumors about Abu Obeida's death are considered part of Israel's psychological warfare by Hamas circles. The public was urged by Hamas circles not to spread rumors about Abu Obeida's death.

The Gaza war began in October 2023 due to an attack by Hamas and other Islamic groups on Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 others as hostages to the Gaza Strip. The UN considers the figures provided by the Hamas-controlled health authority on the number of deaths and injuries in the Gaza war to be credible.

This ongoing conflict continues to pose a significant challenge to regional stability and peace, and both sides are urged to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions to resolve their differences.