Al-Qassam Brigades Announce Deaths of Senior Commanders and Reconstitute Spokesperson Role
Source: Abolition Media
Executive Summary
Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced the deaths of multiple senior commanders in a formal address broadcast on its official Telegram channel and reported by Abolition Media. The statement confirmed the loss of key operational, manufacturing, and brigade level leaders and publicly acknowledged the death of the long time spokesperson known as Abu Ubaida, while simultaneously introducing a new spokesperson using the same nom de guerre. The messaging emphasized organizational continuity, resilience, and the framing of leadership losses as martyrdom rather than degradation.
Analysis
The announcement is designed to manage perceptions of leadership attrition, reinforce institutional continuity, and sustain morale amid sustained Israeli military pressure.
The Brigades confirmed the deaths of Mohammed Sinwar, chief of staff, Mohammed Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, Hikmat Issa, a veteran commander with experience in Lebanon and Syria, and Raed Saad, head of the manufacturing division and former head of operations
The statement acknowledged for the first time that the original Abu Ubaida, identified as Hudhayfa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout, had been killed, while immediately assigning the same nom de guerre to a new spokesperson to signal uninterrupted messaging authority
The new spokesperson framed October 7 as a decisive and justified act, reiterated calls for continued resistance, and warned regional and international audiences of broader consequences if Gaza remains unsupported
Repeated references to Gaza’s steadfast population, regional fronts in Lebanon and Syria, and the concept of an expanding “Greater Israel” project situate the conflict within a wider regional narrative rather than a localized war
The decision to reuse the Abu Ubaida identity mirrors past militant practices intended to preserve symbolic continuity and obscure individual losses. Publicly confirming the deaths of senior figures suggests Hamas assesses concealment is no longer sustainable or useful and instead seeks to control the narrative by portraying losses as proof of sacrifice and legitimacy. The address prioritizes morale maintenance and external messaging over operational detail, indicating the primary objective is political and psychological resilience rather than signaling immediate tactical intent.
