In a major counter-terrorism operation, Israel has confirmed the killing of Hakham Muhammad Issa, one of the founding members of Hamas's military wing, in a precision airstrike carried out late Friday night in Sabra, a neighborhood in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) jointly executed the strike, targeting one of the last remaining senior leaders directly involved in orchestrating Hamas’s military strategies and terror campaigns.
Hakham Muhammad Issa, regarded as a key architect behind the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, played a central role in both the formation and evolution of Hamas’s military apparatus. According to Israeli intelligence, Issa was not only a battlefield commander but also an influential military trainer, strategic planner, and one of the masterminds behind Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. That coordinated assault resulted in the death of over 1,200 civilians and the abduction of more than 250 people—marking one of the deadliest days in Israel’s modern history.
Al-Issa's operational significance extended beyond the battlefield. He was deeply involved in training militants, developing combat tactics, and rebuilding the organization’s military infrastructure amid sustained Israeli bombardments. He also served as a senior advisor within Hamas’s strategic command, using his expertise from past experiences in conflict zones like Syria and Iraq. He later established a military training academy that graduated thousands of recruits, playing a pivotal role in institutionalizing Hamas's military strength.
His killing is seen by Israeli officials as a decisive blow to Hamas’s central command, particularly in the wake of months-long military campaigns aimed at decimating the group’s leadership. A senior IDF official described Al-Issa as a “critical node in the organizational structure” of Hamas, adding that his knowledge, reach, and influence made him “irreplaceable” within the group’s strategic framework.
While Israel hailed the operation as a major success, Palestinian sources reported that the airstrike also caused civilian casualties, as it was part of a larger wave of strikes targeting Hamas strongholds. Health officials in Gaza indicated that dozens of people, including women and children, were killed or injured in the latest Israeli offensives across the enclave. This has reignited calls from humanitarian organizations and international observers for restraint and renewed efforts toward a ceasefire.
Israel, however, remained firm in its stance. In an official statement, the IDF reiterated its commitment to hunting down all individuals responsible for the October 7 massacre. “This is a message to all who think they can escape justice—our reach is long, and we will continue to eliminate threats to Israeli security,” the statement read.
Hakham Muhammad Issa is the latest in a series of senior Hamas figures eliminated in recent months, following high-profile strikes that reportedly killed Marwan Issa (the group’s “shadow” deputy commander) and Mohammed Deif, the elusive military chief. These actions form part of a broader Israeli strategy to dismantle Hamas’s leadership hierarchy, weaken its command capabilities, and prevent the resurgence of coordinated large-scale attacks.
As the death toll continues to rise in Gaza and peace talks gain momentum with support from international mediators, including the United States and Egypt, the killing of such a high-profile figure may further complicate diplomatic negotiations. Nonetheless, Israeli officials consider the elimination of Al-Issa as crucial to disrupting Hamas’s operational continuity, even as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.
The strike signals Israel's unrelenting campaign to neutralize all remaining architects of the October 7 attack and marks yet another turning point in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas—a conflict that has reshaped regional alliances, civilian lives, and international diplomacy.