It appears that the successor to Izz al-Din al-Haddad was eliminated Tuesday in an IDF strike in Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed earlier that the IDF had struck Mohammed Odeh, al-Haddad's successor and the man the defense establishment defines as the new head of the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization. The strike was carried out in the area of the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City.
Odeh served as head of Hamas' intelligence headquarters at the time of the Oct. 7 massacre and was appointed about a week ago to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was eliminated in an IDF strike in the Gaza Strip about two weeks ago. Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction and wounding of many Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. "Congratulations to the IDF and the Shin Bet security agency for their ongoing effort to eliminate our enemies. We will continue to pursue everyone who took part in the Oct. 7 massacre. Sooner or later, Israel will get them all."
After al-Haddad's elimination, three Hamas sources in Gaza told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that Odeh had effectively been chosen to head the military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. According to them, Odeh was one of al-Haddad's close associates and maintained regular contact with him, mainly regarding the reorganization of the military wing and the appointment of dozens of commanders to replace those who had been eliminated.
One of the sources said Odeh, who served as head of the intelligence headquarters on the eve of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack, had already been offered the position after the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025. According to the source, Odeh refused the offer at the time, leading to al-Haddad's appointment. Two other sources, however, did not confirm the information.
The newspaper also reported that there is currently no other figure in Hamas who could compete for the position. As for Imad Aqel, head of the military wing's home front headquarters, the sources said he had not been involved in planning or overseeing the Oct. 7 attack, similar to other senior officials who were not updated on the details until the assault began.
The Hamas sources added that Odeh assumed responsibility for the northern Gaza Strip after al-Haddad was appointed head of the military wing during the war. According to them, he oversaw the new commanders in the terrorist cells in the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City, while continuing to serve as head of the intelligence headquarters.
The newspaper also reported that Odeh headed the military intelligence headquarters in Gaza, which was responsible for gathering information on IDF bases in the western Negev. It was further reported that his unit focused on studying weak points in the Gaza Division in order to carry out attacks at specific locations, with the information passed on regularly to the military wing's command council.
