The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that they successfully targeted and killed Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida.
Obeida had gained notoriety among anti-Israel activists, often appearing on flags and posters at protests in the West.
In a statement, the IDF noted:
On Saturday, the IDF and ISA took out Hudahaifa Kahlout “Abu Obaidah,” who led the propaganda and psychological operations for Hamas’ military factions and acted as their spokesperson.
This operation was enabled by the ISA’s situation room, utilizing prior intelligence gathered by the ISA and IDF Intelligence Director, pinpointing the hideouts of the terrorists.
As of October 7, 2023, Obeida was among the few remaining top terrorists within Hamas’ military structure. For over a decade, Kahlout oversaw the propaganda efforts for these military branches. His role involved coordinating their messaging with political figures in Hamas, making him a key player in shaping propaganda strategies.
As the public representative of Hamas, he aimed to disseminate propaganda and encourage terrorist actions, attempting to sway the sentiments of Gazans and Hamas supporters locally and globally. He also led campaigns of psychological warfare before and during the ongoing conflict.
Under Kahlout’s direction, the Hamas propaganda team shared clips depicting the atrocities of the October 7th attacks, sourced from footage taken by Hamas fighters.
Moreover, he played a role in circulating provocative videos among the Arab community and the Palestinian population, promoting similar violent actions.
During the conflict, Kahlout and his team released a controversial video accusing Israeli civilians and soldiers in the Gaza region.
The IDF and ISA plan to persist in their efforts against terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip to mitigate the threat they pose to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had criticized Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida early on Sunday before Obeida’s death.
