Hamas Acknowledges Loss of Five Leaders in Gaza Conflict
On Monday, the Palestinian group Hamas confirmed that five of its leaders were killed in the ongoing Gaza war. Among them were Abu Obeidah, referred to as their “undercover spokesperson,” and Mohammed al-Sinwar, who is the brother of former supreme leader Yahya al-Sinwar.
The statement they made included a claim from the new undercover spokesperson that he had “inherited” the name Abu Obeidah from his predecessor. This name, which translates to “father of worshipers,” was previously held by Husaifah Samir Abdallah al-Qalut, who died in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on August 31.
Israeli authorities had identified Al-Qalut earlier and released an image of him, partially obscured by a red hat and a keffiyeh. The image revealed on Monday was the first public acknowledgment of him since his death, although he was covered in a scarf.
Abu Obeidah serves as the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Izzadeen al-Qassam Brigades. Typically, the group has been slow to confirm the deaths of its high-ranking members, but the casualties mentioned on Monday have been recognized by Israeli military sources for several months.
For instance, Mohammad al-Sinwar was killed in an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) operation in May, a fact publicly noted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly thereafter. Reports indicated that Sinwar was killed while hiding beneath the European Hospital in Gaza, identified by the IDF as an underground command center. Hamas, however, denied his death at the time, refusing to acknowledge that he was in that location.
Sinwar, at the time of his death, was in command of the Izzadeen al-Qassam Brigades. Another casualty in the same operation was Mohammed Shabana, who commanded the Rafah Brigade.
The statement from Hamas also confirmed the death of Hakam al-Issa, who was the chief of staff for the armed wing and a key figure in the group’s planning of the October 7 attacks that sparked renewed conflict in Gaza. Israeli officials highlighted his role in orchestrating attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.
The IDF has previously noted that Mr. Issa was instrumental in training and strategic operations within the group. His involvement in military initiatives went back years, and he played a significant role in building up Hamas’s military capabilities within the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also mentioned Ra’ad Saad, a senior Izzadeen al-Qassam Brigades member, as one of the fatalities. He had managed to evade capture by hiding in the tunnel systems of Gaza City until mid-December when he attempted to flee and was tracked by the IDF.
Saad’s death was the last mentioned in the statement, and until now, Hamas had labeled his killing, along with others, as a violation of a ceasefire agreement by Israel.
On Tuesday, a researcher from the National Security Institute, Kobi Michael, suggested that Hamas’s decision to acknowledge these losses later than expected might have been a strategic move. By delaying the announcement, Hamas seemed to want to maintain morale among its operatives and residents, showing resilience despite significant leadership losses.
They needed time to regroup and stabilize their leadership, especially after reasserting control over western Gaza. Now that they have managed to appoint successors, even if not all are public yet, it seems safer for Hamas to confirm these deaths. This indicates their ability to endure despite the loss of key figures.
Michael speculated that the timing might coincide with President Trump’s impending meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, amid increasing pressure for Israel to advance with the next steps of a strategic initiative put forth by Trump.
