Final Architect of October 7 Massacre Eliminated in Gaza Strike

In a joint operation, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced they had killed Hakam Muhammad Issa al-Issa, a senior Hamas commander and one of the organization’s founding members. The strike took place in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday night.

According to an official statement, al-Issa served as head of the combat and logistical support division in Hamas’s military wing. He previously held several key positions, including heading Hamas’s training command, leading force-building efforts in Gaza, and serving on the group’s General Military Council. He was also reportedly involved in planning and executing the October 7 massacre.

During the current war, and in recent days, al-Issa played a central role in coordinating Hamas’s aerial and maritime attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF forces. He was also engaged in efforts to rebuild Hamas infrastructure damaged during the fighting.

The military described him as a "central hub of knowledge" and one of the last senior Hamas leaders who held a high-ranking position before October 7 and remained in Gaza.

The IDF and Shin Bet stated they will continue operations to locate and eliminate all terrorists involved in the October 7 attack.