Hamas spokesman Abu Ubeyde Reportedly Killed in Gaza
GAZA CITY – A spokesman for Hamas, Abu Ubeyde, has been reportedly killed in Gaza, according to statements released by the militant group on May 7, 2024. The declaration comes amid intensified Israeli military operations in the densely populated Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City and as Israel prepares for a potential full-scale invasion.
Abu Ubeyde, whose real name is believed to be Hussein al-Mansi, was a prominent figure in Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and served as the primary public face of the group’s military operations, regularly issuing statements during the ongoing conflict. His reported death marks a significant blow to Hamas’s leadership and communication strategy.The Israeli army has been conducting attacks in gaza since the October 7,2023,attacks by Hamas,in which approximately 251 people were taken hostage. Local journalists reported at least seven Palestinians were killed and 20 injured in recent attacks on Al-Rimal, with children among the casualties. The Israeli army maintains it takes steps to minimize civilian casualties before operations, utilizing intelligence and sensitive weapons assessments. The BBC has not independently verified these claims.
The Israeli Security Cabinet approved plans in early August to seize control of Gaza city, a move the United Nations has warned will have “disastrous results” for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and has defended plans to expand the war despite international criticism.
Since October 7, the Gaza Ministry of Health, led by Hamas, has reported over 63,000 Palestinian deaths. Israel is currently attempting to evacuate the population of Gaza City – approximately one million people – to shelters in the south, though most Gazans have already been displaced multiple times. Estimates suggest over 90 percent of buildings in the city have been damaged or destroyed, leading to a collapse of essential services like healthcare, water, and sanitation.
