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Hamas connected Monday (December 29, 2025) confirmed that its longtime spokesperson was killed pursuing an Israeli onslaught successful August successful war-torn Gaza, the archetypal clip the Palestinian militant radical publically acknowledged the decease of 1 of its much salient figures.
The confirmation comes months aft Israel said connected Aug. 31 that its forces had killed the militant group's spokesperson Hudhayfa al‑Kahlout, nicknamed “Abu Obeida,” successful an airstrike connected Gaza. Hamas didn't accidental however helium was killed oregon when.
The announcement came arsenic U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met successful Florida connected Monday arsenic Washington seeks caller momentum for the U.S.-brokered ceasefire successful Gaza, which could beryllium successful information of stalling up of a complicated, 2nd phase.
Abu Obeida had been among the astir recognizable figures of Hamas’s equipped wing, the Qassam Brigades, since the radical seized power of Gaza successful 2007 from the the rival Palestinian radical Fatah. He often delivered statements portion masked, particularly during large escalations, mounting the code for Hamas' threatening messaging and posture toward Israel.
His visibility made him a acquainted fig among Palestinians and crossed the portion for astir 2 decades. The Israeli subject said helium was cardinal successful Hamas' media and propaganda apparatus, saying the onslaught that killed him built connected Israeli quality astir his whereabouts.
Hamas released a caller video connected the Telegram messaging transmission Monday featuring the group's caller spokesman, who said helium was the caller Abu Obeida and that helium had inherited the nickname. The man, wearing a disguise similar his predecessor, did not springiness his existent name.
But helium indicated Hamas' refusal to disarm — successful usurpation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire woody successful spot since October.
“Our radical are defending themselves and volition not springiness up their weapons arsenic agelong arsenic the concern remains,” the spokesperson said.
The Israel‑Hamas warfare started aft a Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, successful which the militants killed an estimated 1,200 radical — mostly civilians — and abducted astir 250 hostages.
Since the ceasefire started connected Oct. 10, Gaza's Health Ministry says that 414 radical person been killed and 1,142 person been wounded successful the coastal enclave. The wide Palestinian decease toll from the warfare is astatine slightest 71,266.
The Ministry, which does not separate betwixt militants and civilians successful its count, is staffed by aesculapian professionals and maintains elaborate records viewed arsenic mostly reliable by the planetary community.
