GAZA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas source said Wednesday that Mohammed Odeh, the newly-appointed commander-in-chief of the group's armed wing the Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday evening.

"The policy of assassinations will not end the Palestinian resistance," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Israel "is mistaken if it believes that targeting leaders will force Hamas to retreat or abandon resistance," the source added.

Meanwhile, medical sources at Al-Shifa hospital told Xinhua that the Tuesday airstrike, involving four missiles, hit the al-Rimal neighbourhood in central Gaza City, killing six people, including Odeh, his wife and two of his sons, among others. About 20 others were injured.

So far Hamas has not issued an official statement confirming Odeh's death.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Odeh, whom he described as Hamas' fourth-ranking official, had been killed.

"We promised that Hamas will not have military or civilian control over Gaza, and so it will be," Katz said.

Odeh was appointed about a week ago to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli strike on May 15.

Odeh previously served as head of military intelligence for the Al-Qassam Brigades, and has been accused by Israel of involvement in planning and coordinating elements of the October 2023 attack on southern Israel.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed a number of senior Hamas military and political figures in Gaza and beyond, according to Israeli and Palestinian statements. ■