Hamas admitted that senior Hamas leaders, including former spokesperson Abu Obeida, were killed by the IDF in a statement made by its military wing’s new spokesperson on Monday.
Abu Obeida, a pseudonym, was the spokesperson of Hamas’s so-called military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. He was killed in an IDF strike on Gaza City on August 31.
Both the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) confirmed the kill at the time, but Hamas has not corroborated the reports until now.
The terrorist group also confirmed the deaths of Mohammad Sinwar, Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, Mohammed Shabana, and Ra’ad Sa’ad.
The new spokesperson confirmed that he has “inherited” the nom de guerre of “Abu Obeida,” literally “father of the worshipers,” from the previous spokesperson, who was legally named Huthayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout.
The announcement came shortly after reports emerged of an upcoming leadership election within Hamas. The frontrunners are believed to be Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Mashaal.
During his address, the new Abu Obeida said that the October 7 massacre was a “resounding explosion in the face of injustice, oppression, siege, and all forms of aggression against al-Aqsa and our people – aggression which crossed all red lines, ignored all calls and warnings, and threw all agreements to the wind.”
Hamas spox.: 'We will not disarm, continue responding to Israel's 'crimes''
The ceasefire came as a result of the “resilience of the resistance,” he added, reaffirming that Hamas has, in his view, the “right to respond to Israel’s crimes.”
He also stated that Hamas will not disarm: “Our people defend themselves and will not abandon their weapons as long as the occupation remains, and will not surrender even if they fight with their fingernails.”
Hamas’s spokesperson also praised those who stood with Hamas, naming various Arab countries, as well as worldwide marches, events, and flotillas.
Who were the five senior Hamas leaders discussed?
Kahlout served as a spokesperson for the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades for an extended period.
He was known for delivering statements while wearing a military-style uniform and covering his face with a red keffiyeh.
While the IDF has since published information that showed his face, the statement from Hamas on Monday appears to be the first time that the terrorist group has revealed the killed spokesperson’s face.
Mohammed Sinwar, brother of arch-terrorist and architect of October 7, Yahya Sinwar, was killed in May 2025 – the IDF confirmed his death in August.
He was killed in an Israel Air Force airstrike while operating in a command center near the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. Before he was killed in the strike, Sinwar served as the head of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. The same strike also killed Shabana, who was a commander in the terror group’s Rafah Brigade.
Ra’ad Sa’ad was a senior terrorist within the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades who was killed in a targeted strike earlier this month.
According to Israeli estimates, Sa’ad had been operating for months within the vast tunnel system around Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. Sources said he had left the tunnels in a vehicle headed toward the eastern part of the city when he was targeted in multiple strikes.
At the time of his death, Sa’ad was considered by Israeli security sources to be the second-most senior official within the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.
As for Issa, he was a senior member of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades who was killed in the June strikes on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
He was considered a founder of the brigades and held the role of head of combat support operations.
Yonah Jeremy Bob, Goldie Katz, Amir Bohbot, and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.