The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) verified the death of Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a co-founder of Hamas, due to an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Friday. Al-Issa was regarded as one of the key architects behind the attacks on October 7.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Securities Authority (ISA) announced on Friday that Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a co-founder of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. The IDF stated that Al-Issa was struck in the Sabra area of the city.
According to the IDF, “Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a vital source of intelligence and one of the last senior Hamas terrorists remaining in the Gaza Strip who held prominent positions prior to October 7th, 2023.” The Israeli military characterized Al-Issa as a senior member of the militant organization’s military wing.
He was regarded as the founder of both Hamas and its military wing. The IDF indicated that at the time of his death, Issa was serving as the head of combat support. Additionally, he was a member of Hamas’ General Security Council. The IDF remarked that Al-Issa “played a significant role in the planning and execution of the horrific October 7th massacre,” although it did not specify the exact nature of his involvement.
Prospects for a ceasefire appear grim. Israel has effectively managed to dismantle the leadership of Hamas during its prolonged conflict in Gaza. This conflict commenced shortly after Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7 in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals. Furthermore, the Palestinian militant group took over 200 hostages, many of whom remain in captivity.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, resulting in the deaths of over 56,000 individuals and leaving thousands more injured in Gaza to date. The coastal enclave is also experiencing a severe shortage of essential resources such as food, water, and medical supplies.
Although both parties consented to a short ceasefire on two occasions, optimism for the conclusion of the conflict began to diminish. In this context, on Friday, US President Donald Trump suggested that a ceasefire could potentially be established within the upcoming week. Nevertheless, it remained uncertain whether this ceasefire would be temporary or permanent, or if it would involve any exchanges of prisoners, similar to previous temporary ceasefire agreements.
The IDF reported that during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Al-Issa was involved in the reconstruction of Hamas’ organizational structures that had been compromised by Israeli airstrikes. Furthermore, the IDF indicated that Al-Issa had orchestrated attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF personnel in Gaza. The Israeli military subsequently pledged to “identify and eradicate all terrorists from the various terrorist organizations that participated in the horrific massacre on October 7th.”
