Jerusalem: Hamas confirmed that Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, and Mohammed Sinwar, a leader in Gaza, were killed in an Israeli airstrike this year. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, briefed their losses in a video statement on Monday.
It also announced the appointment of a new spokesman.
Abu Obaida was also the person who formulated Hamas's media policy during the Israeli-led Gaza massacre. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on August 31. Abu Obaida's real name is Huthayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout. The organization, which is revealing his real name only now, described him as a martyr.
An unmasked photo of Abu Obaida, who appeared in public wearing a mask, was also released. The picture was released by the Palestinian Resistance News Network. He used a military uniform and had his face covered with a red kaffiyeh, covering his face with only his eyes visible, while speaking to the media. The Qassam Brigades also confirmed the deaths of two other senior leaders, including Hamas' Rafah chief Muhammad Shabana.
Meanwhile, heavy rain battered the Gaza Strip during the weekend, flooding makeshift displacement camps and leaving thousands of Palestinians struggling to survive in freezing, waterlogged conditions. Ankle-deep puddles submerged tents that have been weakened by months of use, soaking blankets, mattresses, and personal belongings as displaced families tried desperately to stay dry.
In camps across Khan Younis, muddy water-filled tents, while fragile shelters were propped up with scraps of wood. Children, dressed in flip-flops and thin clothing unsuitable for winter, waded through icy puddles as dirt roads turned into streams. Some residents used shovels in a futile attempt to push the water out of their shelters.