The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, officially announced the death of their spokesperson, Abu Ubaida.

Other leaders killed include Mohammad al-Sinwar, Mohammad Shabana, Raed Saad, and Abu Omar al-Suri.

Al-Qassam spokesperson Abu Ubaida (X)

Who is Abu Ubaida?
Huthaifa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout, known as Abu Ubaida or “the Masked One,” was the official spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas. He typically appeared in full military attire with a red keffiyeh mask, against the banner or slogans of the Al-Qassam Brigades.

His recorded statements were often broadcast during escalations or following significant operations, with a determined and measured tone. His media presence became an integral part of the psychological warfare between Hamas and Israel.

Abu Ubaida habitually broadcast his speeches through his Telegram channel.

His firm voice in Al-Qassam statements served not only to announce military operations but also as a morale booster for the Palestinian public and as a propaganda signal to the outside world.

Abu Ubaida, the enigmatic figure, became a symbol around which narratives of the conflict are woven, widely shared on social media and consumed by followers of the conflict. He was the face of Hamas’s messages.

He gained wider recognition after al-Qassam leader Mohammad al-Deif, assassinated by Israel, announced the start of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation. His prominence began during the 2014 Israel-Gaza war, when he declared that Hamas had captured Israeli soldier Shaul Aaron, despite Israel’s announcement of his death.

In 2006, Abu Ubaida was appointed the official spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, making his first public appearance on June 25, 2006, after armed groups, including Hamas, raided an Israeli military post near the Gaza border.

Abu Ubaida began his media presence in 2002 as a senior field commander in Hamas’s military wing. He attended all the movement’s press conferences during that period but never appeared publicly. After the 2005 disengagement, he was promoted to official spokesperson for the military wing.

In 2013, Abu Ubaida received a master’s degree from the Islamic University in the Faculty of Fundamentals of Religion, with a thesis titled “The Holy Land between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.” A year later, he reportedly prepared for doctoral studies.