Israeli Defense Minister Announces Success of Abu Obeida Assassination Operation

SadaNews - Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, claimed on Sunday afternoon that the operation to assassinate the spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, was successful, and vowed to escalate the genocide war that Israel has been waging on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

Gallant wrote in a post on the "X" platform, "The spokesperson for Hamas, Abu Obeida, was assassinated in Gaza and has gone to meet his partners in the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen in hell. I congratulate the army and the Shin Bet for the excellent execution, and soon, as the battle intensifies, more of his partners will follow suit."

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a government meeting held earlier today, "The army attacked the spokesperson of evil, Abu Obeida," referring to the military spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades.

Netanyahu added, "We still do not know the final outcome, and I hope that he is no longer among us. I noted that Hamas's statements are delayed a bit, perhaps because there is no one left to speak in their name."

Israeli security agencies estimated the "success" of the assassination operation against Abu Obeida in the Israeli attack on a residential building in the Rimal neighborhood yesterday, Saturday, with indications that an official Israeli announcement on this matter would be made soon.

Channel 12 reported that Tel Aviv has indications that the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades has been assassinated, but added that "at this stage, there is no definitive confirmation" of his assassination.

Earlier, Israeli army radio reported from senior officers in the occupation army that Abu Obeida "was not just a spokesperson for Hamas, but a leading figure and a key player in decision-making."

The officers added that "the significance of his assassination is doubled, both for his position within the movement and the great moral impact on Hamas."

The radio indicated that this was the third attempt since the war began to target Abu Obeida, who had previously survived assassination attempts.

Army radio reported that Israeli security agencies estimate the success of the assassination operation.

On Saturday evening, the Israeli occupation army and the Shin Bet announced in a joint statement that an air force aircraft targeted "a central figure in Hamas" in Gaza City, while Israeli estimates indicated that the target was Abu Obeida.

The Israeli army claimed that the operation was carried out "with precise munitions and under direct intelligence supervision to minimize civilian casualties," accusing Hamas of using civilians as "human shields," according to their statement.

In contrast, Hamas stated that the raid "targeted a crowded residential building in the Rimal neighborhood and resulted in dozens of martyrs and wounded," describing it as "a complete war crime and an escalation in the genocide war."

This comes after statements from Abu Obeida himself, in which he confirmed that "the occupation's attempts to invade the city of Gaza will bring destruction upon its leadership," threatening more operations against the occupation soldiers and emphasizing that the file of Israeli prisoners will remain "an instrument in the hands of the resistance."

In May, Israeli military and security agencies estimated that Abu Obeida was with the leader Mohammed Deif, who was assassinated at that time, but he later appeared alive, which deepened his image as a target hard to eliminate.

Abu Obeida was known for his repeated appearances masked with a red keffiyeh, issuing threats and messages during various wars, and he became one of the most prominent faces associated with Hamas during the aggressive Israeli attacks on Gaza, especially since the onset of the genocide war on October 7, 2023.