The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Saturday the targeted elimination of Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a senior Hamas operative who played a pivotal role in planning the October 7 terror attack against Israel.
“ELIMINATED: Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa — one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing,” the IDF stated. “Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre.”
? ELIMINATED: eliminated Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa—one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing.
Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre. As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis.
The IDF & ISA will… pic.twitter.com/pzf7DgQc19
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 28, 2025
Al-Issa, described as a key architect of Hamas’ military capabilities, was killed in a joint IDF and Shin Bet (ISA) operation in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. He served as Head of Combat Support for Hamas and was instrumental in orchestrating both aerial and naval attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.
The IDF confirmed that Issa had been deeply involved in rebuilding Hamas’ operational strength during the ongoing war and was responsible for training the forces that executed the brutal October 7 assault.
He was also one of the last remaining senior Hamas commanders in Gaza, making his elimination a major blow to the terror group’s leadership structure.
A full statement from the IDF declared:
“Yesterday (Friday), in a joint activity, the IDF and ISA struck and eliminated the terrorist Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in the area of Sabra in Gaza City. Issa was a senior figure in Hamas’ military wing and was considered one of the founders of the terrorist organization.”
The military emphasized that efforts to track down and eliminate every terrorist involved in the October 7 massacre are ongoing.