Israel says it murdered Hamas co-creator associated to October 7 assault

(MENAFN)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that it had killed senior Hamas commander Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a key figure in the group's military wing and reportedly one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

That surprise cross-border attack left roughly 1,200 people dead and saw around 250 taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, marked by continuous airstrikes and heavy shelling that have devastated much of the territory.

In a statement, the IDF said Issa was responsible for developing Hamas’ combat capabilities and oversaw both aerial and naval operations targeting Israeli civilians and troops. He also served as the head of Hamas’ Combat Support and Training Headquarters and sat on the group’s General Security Council.

According to reports, Issa was killed in an airstrike along with his wife and grandson.

This strike follows the IDF’s confirmation in late May of the death of another Hamas leader, Muhammad Sinwar, during an airstrike on an underground command center in Khan Younis. The facility was said to be located beneath the European Hospital in the city.

Hamas has denied Israeli accusations that it operates military infrastructure within civilian areas.

In a separate incident, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in December claimed responsibility for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier in July 2024, saying he was targeted with an explosive device. Haniyeh had been leading indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel at the time.

Israel escalated its ground operations in Gaza in May, citing a breakdown in hostage negotiations. According to health officials in Gaza, over 55,600 Palestinians — most of them civilians — have been killed since the conflict began.

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