The Israeli Defense Army and the National Security Administration (SIMBET) issued a joint statement on the 30th that Israel launched an airstrike in Gaza City in the north of the Gaza Strip on the same day, targeting a core member of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). According to the British Sky News Network Arabic channel, Saudi Arabia satellite television, Israel attempted to assassinate the Hamas-backed armed group Qassam spokesman Abu Ubayda, with Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed this at a cabinet meeting on August 31 local time, saying it was waiting for the outcome of the attack.

"The Israeli army attacked the Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman, and we are waiting for the outcome of the attack." Netanyahu said, "There may be no one within Hamas who will declare Abu Ubaida dead at this time."

Earlier in the day, Arab satellite television quoted a Palestinian source as saying that Ubaida had been killed by Israel.

As of press time, Hamas has not yet responded to this.

Since the outbreak of the current round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Abu Ubayda, a longtime spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, has often issued video statements with his face covered, announcing the results of Hamas militants' attacks on Israeli tanks and sniping Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, which is regarded by the outside world as a "symbol" of the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on the 29th that the "suspension of tactical military activities" no longer applies to Gaza City on the grounds that it has become a war zone. The Israeli army will continue to carry out military operations against armed groups in the Gaza Strip. Of the more than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip, about 1 million people are currently in Gaza City, including local residents and a large number of displaced people. The Israeli military plan to take over Gaza City has aroused condemnation and opposition both inside and outside Israel.