The minister wrote in a post on the X network that "the long-time spokesman for Hamas has been sent to join "all the eliminated members of the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen - at the bottom of hell", according to the Times of Israel.

Katz added in the announcement that Obeida, as the military actions in Gaza intensify,"will be joined by many more accomplices in the crime."

Earlier, unnamed Israeli officials expressed confidence that the attack was successful, but Katz is the first senior official to officially confirm Obeida's death.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu stated earlier today that Abu Obeida was the target of an Israeli strike, but that the outcome of the attack was not yet known at the time.

"I hope he is no longer with us, but I am pointing out that there is no one from the Hamas side to shed light on the issue," Netanyahu said, his service reported.

Last night, the Israeli army announced that"an attack was carried out on a key Hamas terrorist in Gaza City", without specifying his identity, but the Israeli media reported that it was Abu Obeida.