New Hamas Gaza Leader Ali al-Amoudi Evades Israeli Targeted Strike

Ali al-Amoudi, identified as the successor to Yahya Sinwar as Hamas leader in Gaza, reportedly evaded an Israeli targeted strike after receiving an urgent warning three hours before the attack, according to Saudi press reports cited by Israel's Channel 14. Sources within Palestinian factions indicated al-Amoudi was in a residential building in western Gaza City near the port area. While there is no direct proof the strike was aimed specifically at him, al-Amoudi took the warning seriously and moved to a secure location. Hamas's "air wing" militants are credited with detecting unusual activity from two Israeli reconnaissance drones surveilling the house, interpreting the maneuvers as preparation for an imminent strike on a high-value target. They alerted their internal security, which then relayed the warning to al-Amoudi's guards. Al-Amoudi is considered a highly influential figure within Hamas, having been a close associate of Sinwar for many years, including shared imprisonment in Israel. He was previously arrested multiple times for involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Israelis and was released in 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange for Gilad Shalit. Before recent events, al-Amoudi ran for Hamas's political bureau chief in Gaza but lost the first round of internal elections to Nizar Awadallah. Although a second round was suspended due to appeals, al-Amoudi maintained significant control. Israeli intelligence agencies continue their efforts to target the remaining military and political leadership of the group in the region.