Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza and a key figure behind the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, has been confirmed dead by a senior U.S. official after an Israeli airstrike more than a week ago. The news of his death was announced by Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, who stated that Mr. Issa, one of the highest-ranking officials in Hamas, had been killed in an Israeli military operation.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari revealed that Israeli warplanes targeted Mr. Issa and another senior Hamas official in an underground compound in central Gaza on March 11. With his death, Mr. Issa, who was among Israel’s most wanted men, became the most senior Hamas leader to be killed in Gaza since the conflict began. Israeli officials have hailed the strike as a significant breakthrough in their efforts to dismantle the Hamas leadership in the region.
However, experts caution that while Mr. Issa’s death is a blow to Hamas, it may not have a long-lasting impact on the group’s leadership structure. Israel has targeted Hamas leaders in the past, only to see them quickly replaced.
Mr. Issa, aged 58 or 59 at the time of his death, had been serving as a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s military wing, since 2012. He was described as an important strategist who played a crucial role as a liaison between Hamas’s military and political leaders. Despite his significance within the organization, experts believe that his death will not cripple Hamas’s activities.
Described as a quiet and decisive figure, Mr. Issa maintained a low profile and rarely appeared in public. He was known for his role in negotiating prisoner swaps between Israel and Hamas and was involved in planning various operations against Israeli targets. Born in central Gaza in 1965, Mr. Issa had a long history with Hamas and had spent time in prisons operated by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
While his death is a setback for Hamas, experts believe that the group will quickly recover and continue its activities. Mr. Issa’s passing marks a significant event in the ongoing conflict in the region, but the repercussions for Hamas remain to be seen.
