[66086] Generational shift in Hamas command: Mohammed Odeh replaces Izz al-Din al-Haddad

Mohammed Odeh appointed commander of Hamas's military wing

Following the assassination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad over the weekend in an airstrike in Gaza, several sources, including the Saudi newspaper "Asharq Al-Awsat" and Kan 11 | Arab Palestinian Desk, report that Mohammed Odeh has been appointed as his replacement in the role of commander of Hamas's military wing.

Background on the appointment and the organization's function

Jerusalem Center notes that Israeli security officials define the elimination of al-Haddad as a significant achievement in the policy of "closing the circle" on the planners of the October 7th massacre. According to the sources, al-Haddad had stopped hiding in tunnels and was operating above ground, which led to his assassination. At the same time, Political-Security Cabinet - Moriah Asraf & Doron Kadosh emphasize that contrary to initial reports in the Israeli media, Odeh is also counted among the "architects of 7/10," which indicates that not all the leaders of the massacre have been eliminated yet.

The identity of the new commander

According to reports in Suleiman & Blumenthal and Aslan - The Arab World | Sapir Lipkin, Odeh served until now as the head of the military wing's intelligence staff. Sources in Hamas stated that Odeh was close to al-Haddad and assisted him in plans for the "restructuring of the organization" of the wing following the eliminations of Mohammed Deif and Mohammed Sinwar. It was also reported that Odeh had previously refused to accept the command after the assassination of Sinwar in May 2025, but has now agreed to take the reins.

Difficulty in formulating a response

Epoch - Magazine reports that Hamas is currently struggling to formulate an effective response to the assassination for fear of escalation that would harm the organization. At the same time, Abu Ali Express published documentation highlighting the nature of the ongoing struggle, including details on terrorists who participated in attacks against IDF outposts, among them the terrorist Tariq Al-Barim who murdered Staff Sergeant Abraham Azulay, may his memory be a blessing.