According to a report by The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida was killed in an Israeli airstrike over the weekend, describing him as the “face of the terrorist organization.”
In a statement released by the military, the IDF said the targeted strike was carried out in coordination with the Shin Bet security service and the Southern Command. “The operation was conducted jointly from the Shin Bet’s operations war room, in cooperation with the Southern Command, and was made possible thanks to prior intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence, which pointed to the hideout where the terrorist was located,” the statement read.
For more than a decade, Abu Obeida served as the chief spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, overseeing its propaganda apparatus. According to the IDF, he played a central role in shaping the group’s messaging, directing spokesperson activities across brigades and battalions, and coordinating with political and military media elements. He was described as the senior figure “setting propaganda policy” for the organization.
The IDF further asserted that Hamas’s propaganda wing under Abu Obeida was directly responsible for the distribution of graphic material from the October 7 massacre, when Hamas terrorists launched a large-scale assault on southern Israel. “Hamas’s propaganda wing was responsible for distributing the atrocities of the October 7 massacre using footage captured by Hamas terrorists,” the military said.
In addition to broadcasting the events of October 7, the IDF said Abu Obeida’s operations produced and disseminated videos aimed at inciting further acts of terror across the Arab world. The propaganda unit also distributed recordings of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, further heightening tensions during the ongoing conflict.
Abu Obeida’s death marks the loss of one of Hamas’s most visible and longstanding figures. Known for appearing in military garb with a covered face, he became the symbolic voice of the group’s military wing, often issuing statements during conflicts with Israel.
The IDF emphasized that eliminating him was a significant blow to Hamas’s media and psychological warfare efforts, which have been central to the group’s strategy alongside its military operations. Israeli officials hailed the operation as a continuation of efforts to dismantle Hamas’s leadership and weaken its ability to wage war both on the battlefield and in the information domain.
