Israeli Strike Targets Hamas’s De Facto Gaza Leader; Group Says He Survived
GAZA: Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad has claimed that Ali al-Amoudi, the group’s de facto leader in Gaza, narrowly survived an Israeli assassination attempt overnight between Friday and Saturday, in an interview with Al Arabiya.According to Palestinian media, five people, including several women, were killed in the strike. Al-Amoudi’s name was not among the dead,…
GAZA: Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad has claimed that Ali al-Amoudi, the group’s de facto leader in Gaza, narrowly survived an Israeli assassination attempt overnight between Friday and Saturday, in an interview with Al Arabiya.
According to Palestinian media, five people, including several women, were killed in the strike. Al-Amoudi’s name was not among the dead, but his condition remains unclear.
Citing The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said al-Amoudi was targeted in an apartment in a residential building allegedly used for “terrorist activities.” Israel’s Channel 12 said it was too early to draw conclusions, and that Israel is trying to confirm whether the strike succeeded.
Before the war, al-Amoudi headed Hamas’s media office. After the 2024 deaths of Yahya Sinwar and Rawhi Mushtaha, he became deputy to Khalil al-Hayya, and was named de facto Gaza leader in July 2026 when al-Hayya became head of the political bureau.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry says violations have killed 1,439 Palestinians and wounded 5,052 as of Thursday.
