Ali al-Amoudi: Israeli assessments suggest assassination attempt in Gaza failed

An Israeli attempt to assassinate senior Hamas figure Ali al-Amoudi in an airstrike on Gaza City likely failed, according to assessments reported by Israel’s Army Radio on Saturday evening.

Army Radio said assessments were leaning towards the failure of the operation targeting al-Amoudi, described as a prominent figure in Hamas’s political wing in Gaza. Channel 12 separately reported that it was too early to reach a definitive conclusion, but Israeli authorities were struggling to confirm that the strike had killed him.

Israel’s military confirmed that it had carried out an overnight airstrike targeting al-Amoudi and said the results were still under review. It did not initially confirm whether he had been killed.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN had earlier described al-Amoudi as Hamas’s de facto leader in Gaza and a leading candidate to formally head the movement in the territory in an anticipated internal leadership election.

The strike hit a residential building in western Gaza City. Palestinian health and civil defence officials said five Palestinians were killed, including four women. Reuters reported that the victims included Christian mother Maisa Abu Dawoud and her daughter Mary. Six people were also reported injured.

Al-Amoudi’s name was not included among those killed, leaving his fate uncertain in the immediate aftermath of the strike. Later Israeli assessments indicated that he likely survived the attack.

Hamas sources told Anadolu that al-Amoudi previously headed the group’s media department and served on its political bureau. They said he became deputy to Khalil al-Hayya after the deaths of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Rawhi Mushtaha in 2024.

The sources said al-Amoudi assumed responsibility for running Hamas in Gaza after al-Hayya became head of the group’s political bureau in July 2026, pending the selection of a successor.

The strike came amid continued violence in Gaza despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. Palestinian health officials have reported more than 1,400 deaths in Gaza since the ceasefire, while Israel has accused Hamas of violating the agreement. Hamas has rejected such accusations and accused Israel of undermining the truce.

The latest strike has added to uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire as Israel continues military operations in Gaza and Hamas remains active in the territory.