A senior commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, was martyred in an Israeli airstrike on Friday evening in the southern part of Gaza City, according to Palestinian sources.

The commander, known as Abu Omar al-Suri, was originally from Syria and moved to Gaza in 2005. Though not widely known to the public, al-Suri was deeply respected within the resistance movement for his tireless dedication and expertise in military strategy.

Hamas members and affiliated activists mourned his loss, describing him as a key architect behind the professionalization and development of Gaza’s resistance forces. “He left his mark on every area of our military efforts,” one source said. “He founded the Al-Qassam Brigades Academy, training thousands of fighters and contributing vast scientific and technical knowledge to support the Palestinian struggle.”

Al-Suri’s role was seen as instrumental in strengthening the capabilities of the resistance, helping to prepare fighters to defend Gaza against continued Israeli aggression.

The targeted killing of al-Suri is the latest in a series of escalations by Israeli forces amid the ongoing siege on Gaza, which has led to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction. His death has sparked fresh calls for unity and resilience among Palestinians and their supporters worldwide. (ILKHA)