The Israeli army announced on Monday evening that they assassinated Hassan Okaisha, a Hamas official responsible for launching rockets towards Israel from Syria. The army stated in a message published on their X account: "The Israeli army killed today in Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, Hassan Okaisha, who was responsible for launching rockets from Syrian territory towards Israel in recent weeks," without mentioning how the assassination was carried out. They added: "Since the beginning of the war, Hassan has directed terrorist groups affiliated with Hamas, which have launched rockets from Syria towards the territory of the State of Israel."
The army concluded its statement by saying: "We will not permit terrorism from Syrian territory, which is responsible for any actions emanating from its lands, and we will continue to act against any threat." The official Israeli broadcasting agency announced last December the establishment of a Hamas branch in Syria. The agency later reported on Monday in a commentary on the army's statement: "It seems that this branch is linked to the rocket launches from Syria towards Israel during Passover last April, which coincided with rocket fire from the Hamas branch in Lebanon towards the north."
According to the agency, "the Syrian branch includes dozens of members, and most of its activities are concentrated in refugee camps in Syria, the Damascus area, as well as in the southern region, in Quneitra and Daraa." Okaisha is considered the second Hamas leader to be assassinated by Israel within a week, following the assassination of Hamas' deputy political bureau chief, Saleh al-Arouri, in the Beirut suburb of Lebanon, as announced by Hamas.
Hassan Okaisha was born in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in 1973 and joined the resistance at a young age. He participated in many military operations against the Israeli army and became one of the leaders of the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing. He was also known for being responsible for the movement's foreign relations and coordinating cooperation with Hezbollah and Iran. Okaisha has been residing in Syria since 2012 and has been involved in training and funding members of the Islamic resistance.
