Abu Obeida: Hamas's military spokesman killed in an Israeli strike

One of Hamas's most important public figures, Abu Obeida, served as the military spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian group's military wing, for nearly two decades until being killed in an Israeli air strike in August.

His profile increased dramatically since the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, and the subsequent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

Best known for his speeches, during which he provided battlefield updates, Abu Obeida would often boast about Hamas's military achievements, and taunt Israel, which in return made several attempts to kill him.

For that reason, Abu Obeida's real identity was never revealed. However on Monday, Hamas formally announced his death and said that his real name was Huthaifa Samir al-Kahlout.

While details about Abu Obeida’s early life are limited, in 2005, he told a reporter his family were forcibly expelled by Zionist militias from historic Palestine in 1948, arriving at a village in the Gaza Strip that he did not name. During the same interview, he implied he was in his early 20s, which indicated he was born in the early to mid-1980s.

A hero for many in the Arabic-speaking world, Abu Obeida's name was often chanted at pro-Palestine rallies and songs would also be sung in his honour.

His seniority in Hamas earned him a place on Washington's sanctions list, along with other leaders of the Palestinian movement.

Read more: Who was Abu Obeida, Hamas's military spokesman?