- Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a founding commander of Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Saturday.
- Al-Issa helped plan the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and oversaw military training, weapons development, and combat logistics.
- IDF says he was one of the last senior Hamas figures left in Gaza and was central to the group’s rebuilding efforts during the war.
- His death follows previous Israeli operations targeting top Hamas and Iranian-linked figures across the region.
Israeli forces have killed Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a top Hamas commander described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a co-founder of the group’s military wing and a principal architect of the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli territory.
The strike, conducted on Saturday in Gaza, was part of Israel’s ongoing campaign to eliminate Hamas’ leadership and dismantle its remaining operational capabilities following months of intensive military offensives.
According to the IDF’s official statement, Al-Issa held several high-level roles over the years:
- Founding member of Hamas’ military wing, aiding in the creation of force-building infrastructure in Gaza
- Former Head of the Training Headquarters for Hamas fighters
- Later led the Combat Support and Administrative Headquarters, managing logistics, weapons development, and combat doctrine
- Played a critical role in the planning and execution of the October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians and military personnel
- Served as a key figure in Hamas’ strategic recovery and reorganization during the war
🔴 ELIMINATED: eliminated Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa—one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 28, 2025
Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre. As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis.
The IDF & ISA will… pic.twitter.com/pzf7DgQc19
This strike is the latest in a series of targeted assassinations carried out by Israel in its attempt to decapitate Hamas’ leadership. In October 2024, Israeli commandos killed Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ top commander in Gaza. Earlier this year, Saeed Izadi, a senior Iranian Quds Force official linked to Hamas support, was eliminated in Iran.
Israel defends these actions as necessary to weaken Hamas’ military infrastructure and deter future attacks. But experts caution that Hamas’ networked structure, combined with backing from Iran and Hezbollah, may allow it to continue operating despite losing senior leaders.
As Israel’s campaign continues, regional tensions remain high. Border clashes with Hezbollah, ongoing airstrikes in Syria, and escalating rhetoric from Iran point to an increasingly unstable Middle East landscape.