Defense Minister Katz confirms death of Hamas military wing chief Mohammed Ouda

The announcement came just 12 days after the IDF assassinated his predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the assassination of Hamas’s military chief, Mohammed Ouda, in a statement on Wednesday. “We pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre, and that is what we will do: They are all marked for death, everywhere,” Katz said. The announcement came just 12 days after the IDF assassinated his predecessor, Izz al-Din al-Haddad. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz announced the strike on Ouda on Tuesday, marking Ouda as the fourth military chief killed by the IDF. "We pledged that Hamas will not rule Gaza, either civilly or militarily, and that is what will happen. The voluntary emigration plan from Gaza will also be implemented, all at the right time and in the right way," Katz added. Ouda served as intelligence head during October 7 massacre Ouda served as head of military intelligence for the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades during the October 7 massacre. He was reportedly offered the role of military head after the assassination of Sinwar in May 2025, but turned it down. Next, he was selected as one of the last remaining Hamas high command members who had an active role in planning and supervising the October 7 attack. According to the foreign reports, the only remaining member of Hamas’s core council is home front commander Imad Aqel, who did not participate in the attack. Ouda formerly served under Deif, and his work with Hamas began around the First Intifada that broke out in 1987. Deif headed the Qassam Brigades during the October 7 massacre and was assassinated by Israel in July 2024, after years of failed attempts. Ouda had survived several assassination attempts, before and after the current war, but during most attempts, he was not at the location targeted.