Israeli forces have attempted to assassinate a senior Hamas leader Ali al-Amoudi in Gaza, Israeli media reported on Saturday.
The attacks took place on Friday evening, when Israeli airstrikes killed five Palestinians, including four women and a child, though al-Amoudi’s fate remains unclear.
Hamas has not issued a statement acknowledging an attempted assassination.
After Hamas’ Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya was elected to succeed slain leader Yahya Sinwar in August 2026, al-Amoudi was considered the most likely candidate to take over as the group’s chief in Gaza, a source close to Hamas told The New Arab in August.
The source noted that al-Hayya remains the official head of Hamas in Gaza, while al-Amoudi serves as his deputy. Israeli media reports on Friday alleged that al-Amoudi is in charge of the the group in Gaza.
Al-Amoudi has remained relatively out of the spotlight for years, though is considered to have been close to slain Hamas leader Sinwar. He was released from Israeli detention as part of the 2011 prisoner swap involving captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and later progressed to higher positions within the movement.
He was also among the key figures within Hamas who pushed within the group for acceptance of UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov’s roadmap for Gaza in late July.
The assassination attempt comes as Israel continues its attacks on Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement that came into force last October. Israeli forces have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza since the truce deal, and has increased its area of military control in the enclave.