Abu Obeida was the face of Hamas’s propaganda machine, orchestrating psychological warfare campaigns that reached millions.

By Hezy Laing

The IDF’s elimination of Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida was reportedly the result of a high-level deception operation involving a fake news story about four kidnapped Israeli soldiers. This psychological ploy was designed to flush out Obeida’s location, and it worked.

Abu Obeida, the masked spokesperson of Hamas’s military wing, was a highly sought-after target for Israeli intelligence due to his central role in the conflict and symbolic significance. His exact location was a closely guarded secret, and the search for him involved sophisticated intelligence operations.

Obeida was one of the most recognizable and influential figures in Hamas, both within Gaza and across the Arab world. His fame stemmed not from battlefield command, but from his role as the masked spokesman of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, a position he held from 2007 until his reported death in 2025.

He was the face of Hamas’s propaganda machine, orchestrating psychological warfare campaigns that reached millions. His speeches, always delivered with his face covered by a red keffiyeh, were broadcast widely and treated by many in Gaza as rallying cries.

He rose to prominence in 2006 when he announced the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and from that moment, became a symbol of Hamas’s resistance narrative. His influence extended beyond Gaza, with children across the Middle East reportedly idolizing him, and international media frequently quoting his statements.

The Setup: Fake Kidnapping Report

On August 18, 2025, the IDF permitted the release of false information claiming that four Israeli soldiers had been kidnapped in a Hamas ambush. The story was quickly picked up and amplified by Al Jazeera, which sought confirmation from senior Hamas officials.

The Trap: Intercepting the Call

Al Jazeera producers reportedly pushed Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas figure, to contact Abu Obeida directly to verify the story. That call was intercepted by Israeli intelligence, allowing the Shin Bet and IDF Unit 8200 to triangulate Abu Obeida’s location—an apartment he had recently rented in Gaza City.

The Strike

Shortly after confirming his whereabouts, the IDF launched a precision airstrike, killing Abu Obeida. His brother had also been arrested weeks earlier, possibly contributing additional intelligence that helped finalize the operation.

Aftermath

In a further blow to Hamas, the IDF released an unblurred photo of Abu Obeida standing alongside other senior leaders, including Mohammed Deif. The image had originally been published by Hamas with blurred faces, but a version held by Al Jazeera journalist Tamer Al-Mishal was leaked, leading Gazan media to label him a “collaborator”.

This operation highlights the IDF’s evolving use of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and psychological warfare, turning Hamas’s own media channels into tools of exposure.