October 2, 2026
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military announced Sunday that it killed the longtime spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, as the country's security cabinet met to discuss the expanding offensive in some of Gaza's most populated areas.
There were no plans to discuss negotiations for a ceasefire at the meeting, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz identified the spokesperson as Abu Obeida, the alias for the person who represented the terrorist organization's Qassam Brigades. He was killed over the weekend. Hamas has not commented on the claim.
Abu Obeida’s last statement was issued on Friday as Israel began the initial stages of the new offensive and declared Gaza City a combat zone.
Israel’s military said the spokesperson, whom it identified as Hudahaifa Kahlout, had been behind the release of videos showing hostages as well as footage of the Hamas-led terror attack that sparked the war. The military also reiterated a threat against remaining Hamas leaders abroad.
Israel has killed many of Hamas’ military and political leaders as it attempts to dismantle the group and prevent an attack like the one on Oct. 7, 2023, when terrorists abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians, in southern Israel.
Fewer than 50 hostages remain in Gaza, and Israel believes about 20 are alive.
The military has urged the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City to flee south, but many say they are exhausted after repeated displacements or unconvinced that any safe place in Gaza remains.
More than 90% of the over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced at least once during the war, many of them multiple times, according to the U.N.
Israel has signaled that aid to Gaza City will be reduced, and it has announced new infrastructure projects in southern Gaza.
At least 63,371 Palestinians have died during the war, according to claims by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians.
Share with others
