Abu Obeida, Hamas’s longtime military spokesman, is said to have been killed in Gaza. Israel’s defense minister says they “took him out,” and congratulates the army and Shin Bet; Netanyahu earlier acknowledged an attack but said the outcome was unclear, and there’s no Hamas confirmation yet. Hamas called rumors part of Israel’s psychological warfare, urging people not to spread them.

Obu Obeida is a high-profile figure who regularly appeared in masked video messages. Israel has killed several senior Hamas leaders in the Gaza war, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif.

In late August 2025, the Israeli military declared Gaza City a combat zone and suspended a temporary pause in fighting. Overnight strikes hit the city’s outskirts, with at least 30 dead reported, including 13 near a food-distribution point.

Earlier in August, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to assault Gaza City—the last Hamas stronghold in the north—with up to about a million residents moved south. The Red Cross warned evacuating the city would trigger massive displacement, while the army said it had begun preparatory steps and would intensify operations to free hostages and crush Hamas.