[ "In the midst of a bustling market street in Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike targeted the building that had become a hideout for Mohammed Odeh, the new commander of Hamas’s Izzadine al‑Qassam Brigades. The strike, carried out on Tuesday, destroyed the upper three floors of the Al‑Kayali building and killed Odeh, his wife, and two of his children—an outcome confirmed by Hamas sources and the Gaza health ministry.", "", "According to a statement issued by Israel’s Defense Forces and Shin Bet, the operation was the result of prolonged intelligence surveillance that tracked Odeh’s movements over several months. The Israeli operators reportedly fired from multiple angles, striking the building from both the east and the west sides. Witnesses in the market reported hearing a helicopter hovering overhead just before the missiles descended.", "", "Odeh was selected as the new head of Hamas’s military wing only days before the strike, succeeding Izzadine al‑Haddad, who was killed in a previous Israeli attack. The rapid succession of leadership losses has underscored the psychological toll on Hamas’s structure; meanwhile, the new appointment had signaled an attempt by Hamas to consolidate its military strategy following the October 7 offensive.", "", "The death toll of the attack was reported by local medics as more than a dozen, with dozens wounded. In the immediate aftermath, rescue teams struggled to access the upper floors due to the heavy traffic of market-goers and damaged infrastructure. The scene was captured in footage that showed ambulances and civil‑defence crews combing through shattered debris while crowds gathered nearby.", "", "The impact of this strike cannot be understated. On the political front, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Odeh as “one of the architects of the October 7 massacre," citing his responsibility for the death, abduction, and injury of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Israeli Minister of Defence Israel Katz reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing Hamas from exercising either civil or military governance in Gaza, hinting at a potential “plan for voluntary emigration from Gaza” at a later stage.", "", "Despite a ceasefire that was agreed upon in October, violence in Gaza has become almost daily, killing at least 900 civilians according to Hamas-run health authorities—a figure that the United Nations treats as credible. Israel, on the other hand, claims it has a licence to target Hamas members and accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire by failing to disarm.", "", "The latest blows to Hamas’s military leadership have come at a crucial juncture. The United States had rolled out the second phase of its Gaza peace plan in January, which envisaged a technocratic administration overseeing a transition to governance, demilitarisation, and reconstruction. However, with stalled talks on disarmament and the re‑activation of Hamas’s police force, the region remains at a fragile pivot.", "", "For worldvoice.news viewers, the story unfolds in near real‑time. As part of our AR/VR capability, the platform will immerse you in the scene—firsthand visuals of the building’s collapse, ambulance rescues, and the emotional atmosphere of the mosque funeral. We’ll continue to bring you updated coverage as the Israeli‑Hamas dynamics evolve.", "" ]