The Israeli army announced that it has killed a prominent leader of Hamas named Raed Thabet during a military operation at the Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza. According to Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee, Thabet was the head of the supplies and workforce division of the military wing of the movement. He stated that Thabet previously served as the head of Hamas's production system and was a knowledge center for the organization regarding supplies and armaments. Adraee noted that Thabet is considered one of the top ten leaders of the military wing and was close to Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Marwan Issa. Hamas has not yet commented on this announcement.
This development follows two days after the Israeli army stated that it had killed Hamas leader Marwan Issa in an airstrike carried out two weeks ago in Gaza. An Israeli army spokesperson described Marwan Issa as "the third figure in Hamas," claiming he was among the planners of the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas inside Israel. The spokesperson added that another Hamas leader, Ghazi Abu Tamah, was also killed in this airstrike; he was considered the leader of the "Central Camps Brigade" in Hamas before serving as the head of combat means and procurement across all of the movement's systems.
Hamas leader Izzat al-Risheq stated that Israel's announcement regarding the assassination of Marwan Issa is an attempt to cover up Netanyahu's crises, insisting that the movement does not trust the Israeli narrative. Issa is considered the third most wanted man by Israel, alongside Mohammed Deif, commander of the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, and Yehya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza.
It is noteworthy that Israel announced targeting Hamas leaders since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered intelligence agencies to devise plans for a list of assassinations, which included prominent names like military wing leader Mohammed Deif and Hamas leader in Gaza Yehya Sinwar, who are believed to be the planners of the October 7 attack and are considered the number 1 and 2 targets that Netanyahu referred to in his past speeches.
