The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Saturday evening that it carried out a precision strike overnight targeting Ali al-Amoudi, the deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza and former right-hand man of Yahya Sinwar. The army said the strike hit an apartment used for 'terror activity' and that steps were taken to minimize civilian harm, but acknowledged the results are still under review. Palestinian media reported five killed, including four women, in the Gaza City strike.
The Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed Saturday evening that it carried out a precision airstrike targeting Ali al-Amoudi, the deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza, describing him as the most senior Hamas figure in the Strip and the former right-hand man of Yahya Sinwar. The military stated that the strike hit an apartment used for "terror activity" inside a residential building in Gaza City, and that steps were taken to minimize civilian harm. However, the IDF acknowledged that the results of the strike are still under review.
The confirmation caps a day of shifting assessments. At 16:34 Jerusalem, Channel 14 correspondent Moriah Doron reported initial indications that the assassination attempt had failed. In response, The Zioneer published a bulletin at 16:35 citing that assessment. At 16:58, Channel 12's Almog Boker reported that Israeli officials had been unable to confirm whether al-Amoudi was killed, leading to The Zioneer's 16:59 bulletin reflecting that uncertainty. At 21:01, military correspondent Noam Amir reported signs consistent with a targeted elimination but said the outcome remained unconfirmed. At 21:58, the IDF and Shin Bet issued a joint official statement confirming the strike, which The Zioneer published at 22:00.
The IDF identified al-Amoudi as Yahya Sinwar's personal assistant and a key decision-maker in the October 7 massacre. The military also noted his involvement in past attacks: the murder of four Israelis in Judea and Samaria in 1993 and the killing of Shin Bet officer Noam-Menachem Cohen in Ramallah in 1994. The army said al-Amoudi is currently the most senior Hamas figure in Gaza, directly involved in rebuilding the terror group's capabilities for war. As The Zioneer reported earlier, al-Amoudi was described by Israeli security services as the architect of Hamas's strategic deception campaign that preceded the current conflict.
Independent confirmation of al-Amoudi's fate has not been provided by either Israeli or Hamas sources. Palestinian media reported five deaths, including four women, in the strike — a claim the IDF did not address. The situation remains developing.
7 developments
- DevelopingIDF strike kills Hamas cell leader in southern Gaza; 8 reported dead in tent camp attack
- ConfirmedIDF says it killed two Hamas commanders in separate Gaza strikes, including operations company commander
- DevelopingIDF Eliminates 4 Islamic Jihad Commanders in Gaza Strike
- ConfirmedIDF strikes 6 targets across Gaza, eliminates Hamas police chief for northern Gaza Strip
Source and signal
- Open-source intake
