Israel Kills New Hamas Military Chief Mohammed Odeh Less Than Two Weeks After Predecessor

Israel killed Mohammed Odeh, Hamas's newly appointed armed wing chief, in Gaza strikes on May 26, 2026, just 11 days after killing his predecessor Izz al-Din al-Haddad on May 15, 2026. Odeh was appointed about a week before May 27, 2026 and was possibly the last remaining member of Hamas's higher leadership council. More than 72,000 Gazans have been killed since the war started in October 2023, with approximately 900 killed since the ceasefire agreed in October 2025.

Mohammed Odeh killing

• ▪Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Hamas's chief armed commander, was killed by Israel on May 15, 2026
• ▪Mohammad Odeh headed Hamas' intelligence division at the time of the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack into Israel
• ▪Mohammad Odeh was appointed about a week before May 27, 2026 to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad as Hamas's armed wing chief
• ▪Mohammad Odeh was killed along with his wife and son, according to a statement from Mohammad Odeh's family
• ▪A relative of Mohammad Odeh confirmed Mohammad Odeh's death to Reuters on May 27, 2026
• ▪Israel killed Mohammad Odeh, Hamas's newly appointed armed wing chief, in an operation in Gaza on May 26, 2026

Gaza civilian casualties

• ▪More than 20 people were wounded in an Israeli strike on an apartment building in the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 26, 2026
• ▪Six people, including at least one woman, were killed in an Israeli strike that destroyed an upper floor of an apartment building in the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 26, 2026
• ▪More than 72,000 Gazans have been killed since the Gaza war started in October 2023, most of them civilians
• ▪Approximately 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025

Expanded military operations

• ▪Israel has been fighting Iran-allied Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since Israel launched attacks on Iran with the United States at the end of February 2026
• ▪Israel announced on May 27, 2026 that Israel had expanded ground operations in Lebanon
• ▪Israel is intensifying its military activities in the West Bank as of May 27, 2026
• ▪Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel killed 1,200 people

Ceasefire implementation deadlock

• ▪Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the period since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025
• ▪Hamas controls a sliver of coastal territory in Gaza under the ceasefire agreed in October 2025
• ▪Israel and Hamas are deadlocked in indirect talks over implementing the second phase of a ceasefire deal as of May 27, 2026
• ▪The ceasefire agreed in October 2025 left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza

Voluntary migration plan

• ▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on May 27, 2026 that Hamas would no longer exercise civilian or military control over Gaza
• ▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on May 27, 2026 that a plan for what Israel Katz described as "voluntary migration" from Gaza would be implemented "at the right time and in the right way"

Perspective of Israeli government

• ▪Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on May 27, 2026 that Hamas would no longer exercise civilian or military control over Gaza