Israeli defence minister says Hamas armed wing spokesperson killed in Gaza, Netanyahu announces recovery of hostage’s body

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the Israeli army has carried out a strike against Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas. 

However, he stated that it is currently unknown whether Obeida is alive or dead.

“We carried out a strike against the Hamas spokesman (…) Abu Obaida. I hope he is no longer with us, but I note that there is no one from the Hamas side to clarify this question,” Netanyahu said in a statement to his weekly cabinet meeting.

Yesterday, the Israeli army announced that it had “hit a key Hamas terrorist in Gaza City” without specifying the target’s identity, but Israeli media reported it was Abu Obeida. Israeli media outlets claim that the IDF killed the masked Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, a claim which has not been confirmed by the Palestinian organisation. A Palestinian source, however, has reportedly confirmed Obaida’s death to the Saudi Arabian channel Al Arabiya.

Hamas posted a video dedicated to its deceased leaders, which includes unpublished footage, photos, and AI-generated content. In the video, the organisation confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, months after he was killed.

The video also features a statement from Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing, about the Palestinian struggle against Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. The video also shows footage of Deif, Ismail Haniyeh (head of the Palestinian organisation’s political bureau), Yahya Sinwar, and the deputy commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Marwan Issa, all of whom have been killed by the Israeli army.

Netanyahu announces recovery of hostage’s body, mother threatens PM with ‘murder’ charges

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced tonight that the body of hostage Idan Steivi has been recovered from the Gaza Strip. Following the recovery of Steivi’s body, Israel now believes 48 hostages are still in the Palestinian enclave, with only 20 of them thought to be alive.

The mother of an Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip for nearly 23 months today threatened to press “murder” charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if her son is not released alive.

“Netanyahu, if my Matan returns in a body bag (…), I will personally make sure you are charged with murder,” said Einav Zangauker, a leading figure of the Hostages Families Forum, speaking in Tel Aviv ahead of a rally for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Matan Zangauker was abducted on October 7, 2023, along with more than 200 other people during the unprecedented Hamas attack in southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.

“If Netanyahu chooses to take over the Gaza Strip instead of accepting the proposed ceasefire deal, it will be tantamount to the execution of our hostages and our beloved soldiers,” Zangauker added, speaking to reporters outside the Defence Ministry.

Not far from the ministry, thousands of protesters demanded the release of the hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.

Hamas recently announced that it has accepted a proposal from mediators for a 60-day ceasefire with the release of hostages in two stages. However, Israel has not officially responded, and the government has ordered the army to prepare for a major offensive in Gaza City, with the stated goal of the Israeli government being the extermination of Hamas and the return of the hostages.