TEL AVIV, Israel (Diya TV) — Israel’s military said it killed a top Hamas leader and mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack in a targeted airstrike in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a founding figure of Hamas’ military wing, died during the strike on Friday in the Sabra neighborhood.
According to the IDF, Al-Issa played a central role in planning and executing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. That assault left more than 1,200 people dead and saw over 250 taken hostage. Officials said Al-Issa was one of the last remaining senior Hamas commanders still operating in Gaza.
“He led Hamas’ force build-up and training, and planned the October 7 massacre,” the IDF wrote in a post on X. “As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial and naval attacks against Israelis.”
Al-Issa reportedly worked closely with other senior commanders to rebuild Hamas’ organizational systems after months of heavy Israeli strikes. He was also a co-founder of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades’ military academy, which trained thousands of Hamas fighters.
The military said he was considered a “key source of knowledge” for Hamas operations and remained active in coordinating recent attacks on Israeli forces. The airstrike that killed Al-Issa took place while he was reportedly with his wife and grandson. The IDF said the operation was a joint effort with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), also known as Shin Bet.
Al-Issa’s death came just days after another high-profile strike eliminated Asaad Abu Sharia, the leader of the Mujahideen Brigades, a separate Palestinian militant group. Abu Sharia was linked to the killings of several Hamas hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
Earlier in June, the IDF also confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Mohammad Sinwar was killed in a strike on a Gaza hospital while hiding in tunnels beneath the building. Israeli soldiers later recovered his body from the rubble.
As the conflict continues, Gaza’s humanitarian situation worsens. On Saturday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported at least 37 people killed, including nine children, due to ongoing airstrikes. The attacks hit several areas, including a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City and homes in Jabalia.
Two civilians waiting for food aid were also reportedly killed in the Netzarim corridor, a key supply route in central Gaza. Aid groups have warned that famine-like conditions persist across much of the region. Meanwhile, the United States continues to push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Former President Donald Trump said Friday that a peace deal could be reached within the week.
“We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,” Trump told reporters, according to The Associated Press. U.S. officials said Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected to visit Washington in the coming days. Talks will reportedly cover the Gaza war, ongoing tensions with Iran, and other regional security issues.
Efforts to negotiate a truce have collapsed several times since the last ceasefire failed in March. An estimated 50 hostages remain in Gaza, and less than half are believed to still be alive, according to Israeli sources.
The Israeli military has vowed to continue its campaign to eliminate all those involved in the October 7 attacks. In its statement, the IDF said it remains committed to “locating and eliminating all terrorists” responsible for the massacre.
The death of Al-Issa marks a significant blow to Hamas’ leadership and its operational capabilities in Gaza. However, Israeli officials say the fight is far from over. As the war drags on, civilians on both sides continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with no clear end in sight.
