GAZA CITY (VINnews/AP) – Israeli forces carried out three consecutive airstrikes Tuesday targeting Mohammed Odeh, the newly appointed commander of Hamas’ military wing, in a densely populated area of Gaza City, according to a local resident and Israeli officials.

A resident of the Rimal neighborhood told i24NEWS that Odeh was hiding in an apartment building above a market in the busiest part of the area. The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the streets were crowded with shoppers preparing for Eid al-Adha.

“I have no objection to the IDF’s targeting of Awda, but it’s very crowded out in the streets right now because everyone is out shopping for Eid al-Adha,” the resident said. “Hamas knows this and is hiding among the civilians. I hope the targeting was very accurate and that there were no additional casualties.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israel Defense Forces struck Odeh, describing him as the new commander of Hamas’ military wing and one of the architects of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Odeh, who previously served as head of Hamas intelligence, was appointed as successor to Izz al-Din al-Haddad approximately one week earlier. Al-Haddad was killed in an Israeli strike in the same Rimal neighborhood about 10 days ago.

An update on Odeh’s elimination was reported during a Channel 12 broadcast, citing the Chief of Staff. The IDF has not officially commented on the outcome of the strike.

Gaza’s civil defense agency, run by Hamas, reported that at least one woman was killed in the strike in Rimal, with additional casualties possible.

The strikes come as Israel continues efforts to dismantle Hamas’ leadership following the Oct. 7 attacks that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and led to the taking of more than 250 hostages. Hamas has not issued an immediate comment on Odeh’s status.