The Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Monday the martyrdom of their longtime and iconic spokesperson, known to millions of Palestinians and supporters worldwide as Abu Obaida, revealing his real name for the first time as Hudhaifa al-Kahloot.

The announcement was delivered in a recorded statement by his successor, who confirmed that he will also carry the nom de guerre Abu Obaida, underscoring the continuity of the Palestinian resistance despite Israel’s relentless war on the Gaza Strip. The statement emphasized that the voice of resistance will not be silenced by assassinations or mass destruction.

According to the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hudhaifa al-Kahloot was martyred during Israel’s ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza. While specific details regarding the timing and location of his killing were not disclosed due to security considerations and the extreme conditions on the ground, the movement stressed that his martyrdom came as part of the heavy price paid by Palestinians resisting occupation and aggression.

For nearly two decades, Abu Obaida stood as one of the most recognizable and steadfast figures of the Palestinian resistance. Appearing masked and resolute, he became the voice that conveyed battlefield developments, resistance positions and messages of defiance during major confrontations with Israel, including the wars of 2008–2009, 2014, 2021 and the current assault on Gaza. To many Palestinians, he symbolized discipline, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to liberation.

Following the announcement, waves of mourning and tributes swept across Gaza and the wider Palestinian world. Resistance factions, political movements and ordinary Palestinians hailed al-Kahloot as a national figure whose words inspired steadfastness (sumud) in the face of siege, bombardment and collective punishment. Messages emphasized that his martyrdom would only deepen determination rather than weaken it.

Hamas officials and resistance leaders reiterated that Israel’s systematic targeting of prominent figures, journalists and spokespersons is part of a broader attempt to crush Palestinian morale and erase the narrative of resistance. They stressed that such tactics have repeatedly failed, noting that new leaders and voices continue to emerge from within Gaza despite unprecedented devastation.

The announcement comes amid one of the deadliest periods in Gaza’s history, with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, entire neighborhoods flattened, and basic life infrastructure destroyed under Israeli bombardment. Severe restrictions on movement, communications blackouts and ongoing attacks continue to make independent verification and information flow extremely difficult.

As Gaza endures siege, starvation and relentless attacks, Palestinians say the martyrdom of figures like Hudhaifa al-Kahloot stands as a stark reminder of the cost of resistance under occupation—and of the determination of a people who insist that their struggle, and their voice, will continue. (ILKHA)