Netanyahu confirms IDF attempt to eliminate Hamas representative Abu Ubaida

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service conducted a joint operation targeting Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in the Gaza Strip.

According to the premier's office, Netanyahu made the statement during a weekly government meeting, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media outlets..

“We carried out a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the IDF targeting the ‘spokesperson’ of Hamas, the representative of this villainous organization, Abu Ubaida,” Netanyahu said. 

He noted that the outcome of the operation remains unclear, adding, “We still don’t know the final result. I hope he is no longer with us, but I’ve noticed that Hamas has no one to comment on this matter. The coming hours and days will undoubtedly reveal more.”

The operation, reported on August 30, 2025, by Israeli media, involved an airstrike on a residential apartment in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood. Israeli outlets, including Israel Hayom and Channel 12, claimed the strike aimed to eliminate Abu Ubaida, with some reports suggesting the operation was successful, though unconfirmed. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported one civilian killed and others injured in the attack.

Abu Ubaida, whose real name is believed to be Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, has been a prominent figure in Hamas’s media campaign since at least 2007, known for delivering statements on behalf of the Al-Qassam Brigades. His potential elimination would mark a significant blow to Hamas’s public-facing operations, though no official confirmation of his status has been provided by either side.

By Khagan Isayev