HAMAS’ key money man has been blown to pieces in a targeted strike – just 24 hours after Israel declared the terror group’s new military chief had been “sent to hell”.
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they eliminated senior Hamas financier Ihab Khrizim in a precision strike in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday.
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Hamas’ key money man was blasted in a targeted strike Credit: x.com/idfonline/
Officials said Khrizim had funnelled millions of dollars directly into Hamas’ military wing – cash used to arm fighters and bankroll attacks.
The IDF said he continued to “violate the ceasefire agreement” and warned his operations posed an immediate threat.
“His actions enabled the promotion and execution of terror plots in the immediate timeframe against IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip and civilians of the State of Israel.
“The elimination of Khrizim constitutes a blow to the terror organization Hamas’s attempts at rehabilitation and empowerment.”
Dramatic footage released by the Israeli military shows forces locking onto a moving car before unleashing the deadly strike.
Moments later, the vehicle erupts into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Israel also confirmed the killing of Mohammed al-Habash, a weapons maker for the terror group, in the same wave of attacks.
Mohammed Odeh – a top Hammas commander and key figure tied to the October 7, 2023 massacre – was also killed in a ferocious overnight bombardment of Gaza City.
His wife and two children were also killed in the strike.
Odeh had only been appointed days earlier as the head of Hamas’ military wing, replacing Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was himself killed in an Israeli strike on May 15.
He was described as the last remaining “architect” of the October 7 attacks.
“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz celebrated the kill, declaring the terror chief was now “in the depths of hell.”
He also issued a chilling warning of what lies ahead.
“We pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre and this is what we will do: they are all bound to die, everywhere,” Katz wrote on X.
“We pledged that Hamas will not hold civilian or military rule.”
The Israeli army said the strike followed months of intelligence tracking.
The hit “followed months of intelligence monitoring aimed at tracking the movements of Odeh and his operatives”.
Footage released by the IDF shows the moment the airstrike rips through the target – reportedly also destroying a nearby hideout apartment used by militants.
The blast tore through a residential building in one of Gaza City’s busiest market areas, leaving at least five Palestinians dead and a dozen more wounded.
Hamas has yet to officially confirm Odeh’s death or name a successor.
However, a relative confirmed the killing to Reuters, with a funeral held in Gaza City after noon prayers.
Mourners gathered in large numbers, chanting and firing gunshots into the air as the bodies were carried through the streets.
The four victims were draped in Hamas’ green flags.
The killings came as Muslims prepared for Eid al-Adha – the four-day “Feast of Sacrifice” – casting a dark shadow over the region.
Odeh, a former Hamas intelligence chief, had recently taken over leadership of the Qassam Brigades, the group’s feared armed wing.
He replaced Ezz al-Din al-Haddad, who had himself risen to power after the assassination of Mohammed Sinwar before being killed earlier this month.
With tensions spiralling, the conflict is now spilling into a wider geopolitical crisis.
Israel is closely monitoring high-stakes US-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the war.
During his cabinet meeting last night, Trump was asked about reports that Iran and Oman have struck a deal to jointly control the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he would not accept such an arrangement as part of a peace deal.
“The strait is going to be open to everybody… nobody’s going to control it,” he said.
“We’re going to watch over it, we’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it.”
The president said “they would like to control it”, but stressed the strait is part of international waters, and “Oman will behave just like everybody else”.
“Or else we’ll have to blow them up, they understand that, they’ll be fine,” he added.
