Israel announced Sunday that it had killed Abu Obeida, the longtime spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, as its security cabinet convened to discuss expanding military operations in densely populated areas of Gaza.
An anonymous official said ceasefire talks were not on the cabinet’s agenda.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Abu Obeida, a key figure in Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, was killed over the weekend. Hamas has not confirmed his death. According to the Israeli military, Abu Obeida — whose real name was Hudahaifa Kahlout — was responsible for publicizing hostage videos and footage from the October 7 attacks. The military reiterated that Hamas leaders abroad remain targets.
The offensive comes amid Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas following the October 2023 assault in which 251 people were taken hostage and around 1,200 — mostly civilians — were killed in southern Israel. Currently, fewer than 50 hostages are still held in Gaza, with only around 20 believed to be alive.
Outside the cabinet meeting, families of hostages protested the government’s unwillingness to prioritize a ceasefire. Einav Zangauker, whose son is a hostage, criticized the government for refusing to reach a deal that could save lives.
Deadly Attacks Amid Aid Efforts
Since Saturday, at least 43 Palestinians have been killed, most in Gaza City. Shifa Hospital reported 29 bodies, including 10 civilians who died while attempting to access aid. One grieving woman questioned the rationale behind the airstrikes, asking whether rubble was being mistaken for resistance fighters.
Al-Awda Hospital reported another seven civilians were shot while trying to reach humanitarian aid. Witnesses said Israeli troops opened fire on crowds in the Netzarim Corridor — a military zone that cuts across Gaza. “We just wanted food,” said Ragheb Abu Lebda, who saw multiple people wounded. “It’s a death trap.”
Civilians continue to die amid chaos surrounding humanitarian convoys. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-funded aid organization, denied any incident near its facilities that day. Israel’s military has not commented on the civilian casualties reported Sunday.
City in Ruins, Civilians Too Weary to Flee
Israeli forces have been targeting areas around Gaza City for weeks, preparing for a larger offensive. Airstrikes have intensified in neighborhoods like Rimal, where smoke filled the sky Sunday. Residents, exhausted and displaced multiple times, picked through the rubble for basic supplies. Many say they are too tired to evacuate again or doubt any part of Gaza is truly safe.
The U.N. reports that over 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced at least once, often multiple times. Israel has hinted that it will limit aid to Gaza City while planning new infrastructure in the south — steps that Palestinians see as forced displacement.
Rising Deaths from Starvation
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported seven more adult deaths due to malnutrition in the past day. Since June, 215 adults and 124 children have died from hunger-related causes, the ministry says.
Meanwhile, a humanitarian flotilla departed from Barcelona in the largest effort yet to breach Israel’s naval blockade. Previous attempts have been unsuccessful.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. About half of the dead are believed to be women and children. While Israel disputes these figures, it has not released its own casualty estimates. The U.N. and independent organizations regard the ministry’s numbers as generally credible.