Hamas chief ‘who masterminded October 7 attack’ is killed by Israeli airstrike, IDF say
The Hamas chief allegedly behind the attacks on October 7 has been killed by an Israeli airstrike, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
In a post on X, the IDF reported that it ‘eliminated’ Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa – ‘one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing’ in a targeted airstrike on the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza.
‘Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre’, the post said.
‘As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis.’
The attacks on October 7, 2023, saw thousands of Hamas fighters storm into southern Israel where they killed 1,320 Israelis and took a further 251 hostage.
The IDF claims that Al-Issa ‘played a significant role in the planning and execution’ of the attack as well as serving as Head of the Training Headquarters.
The post also suggests he is ‘one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip’ and ‘a key source of knowledge’.
‘The IDF & ISA will continue to locate and eliminate all terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre,’ they added.
In a post on X, the IDF reported that it ‘eliminated’ Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa
It is understood that Al-Issa arrived in Gaza in 2005 from Syria.
According to the New York Post, Al-Issa was reportedly with his wife and grandson during the strike.
The post also said ‘in the past’, he ‘led Hamas’ force-building domain in the Gaza Strip’ and was ‘one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing’.
It also added he ‘operated to rebuild Hamas’ organisational systems that were damaged during the war’.
This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
