Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzideen Al-Qassam Brigades
In a statement released on Saturday, Hamas said the rumours originated in Israel and were intended to serve Israeli occupation army intelligence objectives.
The group warned that the Israeli media are “controlled and supervised by the military and intelligence services” and only publish information under their direction.
“Past experience shows that Israel circulates false claims of senior Hamas figures’ deaths to provoke responses that help gather intelligence for targeted assassinations,” Hamas added.
The Palestinian group also called on its supporters not to spread “the occupation’s rumours,” describing them as part of a psychological warfare campaign aimed at undermining internal unity.
The warning came a day before Hamas confirmed early on Sunday the death of Mohammed Sinwar, its Gaza leader, more than three months after Israel had claimed it killed him in an airstrike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the reports about Abu Obeida during Sunday’s cabinet meeting, saying: “We are waiting for the results. I notice that Hamas’s announcement is a bit delayed.”
Several Saudi news outlets, including Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, cited Palestinian sources reporting that the strike killed all residents of the apartment, including the Palestinian resistance spokesperson.
Al Hadath quoted an undefined source saying: “The strike killed everyone in the apartment, including the spokesperson of the military wing of Hamas. Members of his family identified his body.”
However, Al Arabiya correspondent Khadr Al-Zaanoun reported that seven Palestinians had been killed in the airstrike on the Rimal neighbourhood building, but said “there is no confirmation from Hamas on the death of Abu Obeida.”
Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, has been targeted multiple times by Israeli forces since the start of the war in Gaza. In October 2023, the Israeli occupation army revealed his real identity as Hudayfa Samir Abdallah Al-Kahlout, intensifying efforts to assassinate him.
Hamas has denied the rumours and has historically been cautious in responding to Israeli reports about senior figures until verification is confirmed.
The flurry of reports follows Israeli media accounts that seven Israeli soldiers were wounded and four went missing on Friday after Hamas fighters staged a nighttime ambush in Gaza’s Al-Zeitoun neighbourhood.
Earlier on Friday, Abu Obeida warned that Israel’s push to seize and occupy Gaza City would “increase the chances of capturing new soldiers” and prove disastrous for Israeli leadership.
Israel is now preparing to invade Gaza City, the territory’s largest population centre, while extremist ministers in Netanyahu’s government have openly called for the annexation of the strip and the forced removal of its 2.4 million Palestinians.
Since it started its genocidal war, Israel has killed at least 63,371 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, and injured 159,835 others, with Israeli bombing reducing much of the territory to rubble.
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