Israeli army says assassinated Hamas south Gaza military intelligence chief

CAIRO – 21 March 2025: The Israeli military announced on Thursday the assassination of Osama Tabash, the head of Hamas's military intelligence in southern Gaza.

In a statement, the Israeli army asserted that Tabash was responsible for formulating Hamas's combat strategy on the ground.

He also served as the head of the movement's monitoring and targeting unit and was involved in planning and identifying targets for the 7 October 2023 attack.

Palestinian sources reported that the assassination took place in the eastern part of Khan Younis.

Israeli forces early on Tuesday resumed extensive airstrikes on Gaza, shattering a ceasefire that had lasted nearly two months and paused a war that has claimed over 49,600 Palestinian lives since 2023.

Over the past three days, the Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of more than 600 people, most of whom are women and children, according to Palestinian reports.

Israeli attacks also struck a UN site in central Gaza City, killing a foreign staff member and injuring five other foreign workers, leading UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for a full investigation.