Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida delivered a defiant address on 2 June, asserting that Israel’s systematic assassination of resistance leaders will fail to weaken the movement. Stressing that such sacrifices only strengthen their resolve, he declared: “The blood of our leaders is the fuel that drives our ship to overcome hardships, and it will fuel the battle until victory.”
The statement paid heavy tribute to recently martyred commanders Izz al-Din Haddad and Mohammed Odeh. Abu Obaida described both men as central figures in developing Al-Qassam’s military capabilities and key architects of the 7 October operation. Addressing the people of Gaza, who participated in mass funeral processions for the fallen commanders, he pledged the movement’s unwavering loyalty, stating, “It is forbidden for us to betray this blood.”
Odeh, who served on the Brigades’ military council and headed its intelligence headquarters, had survived multiple previous assassination attempts. Despite relentless bombardment, he refused to leave the Gaza Strip, continuing his command operations until he was martyred alongside his wife and two sons in a targeted Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood.
In his address, Abu Obaida sharply criticized international mediators and guarantors of ceasefire agreements, stating that Israel’s continuous daily killings and flagrant violations of its commitments have brought these parties to a crucial “moment of truth.” He urged Arab and Islamic nations to abandon neutrality and intensify concrete efforts to restrain Israeli aggression.
Concluding his message, the spokesperson saluted regional resistance fronts particularly in Lebanon praising their fighters for their active role in direct confrontation with Israel. He renewed a call for broader regional support, asserting that the mounting sacrifices of the leadership would ultimately secure a clear and decisive victory.
