Senior Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia area of the northern Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday night.
“The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) eliminated the spokesperson of the Hamas terrorist organization, who also operated as a terrorist in the organization’s military wing,” the IDF statement read.
Al-Qanou “served as one of the main spokespeople for the terror group, spreading lies, inciting terrorist actions and promoting the murderous narrative of the organization, which aims to destroy the State of Israel,” it added.
“The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to operate to destroy the governmental and military capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the statement concluded.
Several other people were wounded in the strike, according to Arab media reports.
حماس تعلن مقتل المتحدث باسمها عبد اللطيف القانوع في غارة إسرائيلية https://t.co/HHbmaMtRO2
— العربية (@AlArabiya) March 27, 2025
Al-Qanou was regarded as one of Hamas’s key public figures, alongside Abu Obaida, spokesman for the terrorist group’s “military” wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, and spokesman Hazem Qassem. He was believed to have had close ties with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces on Oct. 16, 2024.
After maintaining a low profile during the early stages of the current war, al-Qanou resumed media appearances during the ceasefire, continuing to act as a spokesperson in Arabic-language outlets.
In a recent interview with Al-Araby TV, he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of intentionally delaying ceasefire negotiations for domestic political purposes, while claiming Hamas had submitted “reasonable” proposals.
