Israel confirms death of Hamas leader Rawhi Mushtaha in Lebanon

The Israeli army confirmed on Wednesday, October 3, 2024, in a statement that it has killed three senior Hamas members, including the head of the government in Gaza, Rawhi Mushtaha, in an airstrike in the north.

In the attack in northern Gaza where Mushtaha was killed, Sameh al-Siraj, in charge of security affairs for Hamas’ political branch, and Sami Oudeh, security commander of the politburo, also died. Tel Aviv claims that al-Siraj was dealing with defense matters with Sinwar, while Oudeh controlled the protection and subsistence mechanisms for the group’s members. According to the Israeli army statement, the three were killed in an airstrike that hit one of the Palestinian group’s tunnels. “A fortified and equipped underground compound that served as a command and control center for Hamas, while allowing high-ranking operatives to remain inside for long periods of time,” the Israeli army note said.

With his death, Israel has practically decapitated the political leadership of Hamas, following the assassination in Tehran of former leader Ismail Haniyeh. However, the Palestinian organization has replaced the fallen officials in its ranks with trusted men such as Yahia Sinwar – architect of the attack on October 7 – who now holds the leadership of Hamas.

The death in combat of a first Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon, since the Army began a ground invasion early Tuesday morning.

The soldier has been identified as Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22 years old, from the Israeli city of Modin, near Jerusalem, and commander of the Army’s Egoz Unit.

Written by: Oscar El Blue

Israel confirms death of Hamas leader Rawhi Mushtaha in Lebanon