The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had killed Abu Obeida, the longtime spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, in an attack on Gaza City, in what would be the latest in a string of Israeli assassinations of the Palestinian group’s key figures.

Neither Hamas nor its armed wing, which is known as the Qassam Brigades, has commented on the claim. Hamas has rarely acknowledged the deaths of its leaders in real time, often taking weeks or months to concede their demise.

The Israeli military’s announcement came as it prepared to take over Gaza City, defying international calls to reach an immediate deal to end the war and free hostages still held in the enclave. Plans for a Gaza City offensive, which would force hundreds of thousands of people to flee, have provoked international condemnation and set off protests in Israel over concerns the operation would put hostages at risk.

Abu Obeida had threatened in a statement carried in official Hamas news media on Friday that Israel would “pay the price” with “its soldiers’ blood” if it sought to conquer Gaza City.

The following day, Israeli forces launched an attack on the Gaza City neighborhood of Rimal that the Israeli military said targeted a key Hamas figure. Three Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to discuss the sensitive matter, identified the target as Abu Obeida.

At least five people were killed in the Israeli attack, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense, a Gaza rescue organization.