Reports: Israel targets senior Hamas leader Ali al-Amoudi in Gaza
Al-Amoudi reportedly had little chance of surviving the strike, though his death has not been confirmed
Israel targeted senior Hamas leader Ali al-Amoudi in an airstrike in Gaza City, according to an Israeli security source cited by several media outlets. It was not immediately clear whether he was killed.
The strike hit a building in western Gaza City before dawn on Saturday. Palestinian media reported at least five people killed, including four women. The IDF had not publicly commented as it assessed the results, it is understood.
Several reports said that al-Amoudi was inside the targeted building and that his chances of surviving were low.
A close associate of Yahya Sinwar, al-Amoudi served as his office director and later headed Hamas’s media department. His influence within the group grew after Sinwar was killed in October 2024 and other senior leaders were killed during the war.
Al-Amoudi has been competing against Nizar Awadallah to lead Hamas in Gaza. The election was suspended after a significant number of voters submitted blank ballots.
He was released from an Israeli prison in the 2011 exchange for captive soldier Gilad Shalit, alongside Sinwar. The two became close during their imprisonment and maintained their ties after their release.