Infamous Hamas Spokesman Abu Obeida reportedly killed in IDF airstrike in Gaza City

Hamas Spokesman Abu Obeida, the nommé de guerre of Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, was reportedly killed in an IDF airstrike on an apartment in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood on Saturday. 

Although Abu Obeida’s death has not been officially confirmed, Israeli officials told Hebrew media on condition of anonymity that the military is optimistic the strike was successful.

In its initial announcement, the IDF did not name the intended target, saying only that “a key Hamas terrorist” had been struck in Gaza.

“A short while ago, the IDF and ISA struck a key Hamas terrorist in the area of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip," the IDF announced on Saturday evening. “Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.” 

Abu Obeida has served as the Hamas spokesman for several years, wearing his trademark red keffiyeh to hide his facial features. Despite efforts to mask his identity, Israel has known his true identity for some time, even revealing his real name shortly after the start of the Gaza war. 

Shortly after the strike, as rumors began to circulate on Arab social media accounts, Hamas attempted to conduct damage control operations, referring to the reports as “Zionist rumors.” 

In its messages to the Palestinian public, Hamas claimed that Israeli media cannot be trusted because it follows IDF security directives. In reality, Israel’s military censor restricts the publication of information considered harmful to national security, but it does not dictate what the media must publish.

“We call on our people not to spread the rumors that Israel is spreading as part of psychological warfare in order to undermine the internal front,” the Hamas statement read. 

Hamas claimed that the Israeli strike hit a residential building, claiming “dozens of deaths and injuries.” 

Abu Obeida will not be giving a press conference tonight… pic.twitter.com/9148d4wKhf

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 30, 2025

However, on Sunday morning, a Palestinian source told the Saudi channel Al Arabiya that Abu Obeida had been killed in the strike. 

The source said the airstrike killed everyone in the apartment, including al-Kahlout (Abu Obeida) and that his death had been confirmed by Hamas officials, after examining the body. However, the terror group has not issued any official announcement.

Hamas often waits for several weeks, or even months, to confirm the deaths of high-ranking officials. This was the case with Mohammed Sinwar, brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. In May, Israel struck a tunnel complex under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, targeting Mohammed Sinwar, along with several other Hamas commanders. 

While the IDF ruled the attack successful within several days of the strike, Hamas only confirmed Mohammed Sinwar’s death on Saturday. 

In the airstrike that killed Sinwar, Israeli authorities initially believed Abu Obeida had been with him. However, after a team inspected the site and removed the bodies, it was determined that Abu Obeida was not present.

If Abu Obeida has been killed, only a few senior Hamas figures from the start of the war would remain alive, with the rest eliminated in IDF operations and airstrikes.