Israeli forces killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’ military wing and one of the last senior commanders linked to the planning of the October 7 attacks on Israel, in a targeted airstrike in Gaza City, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
In a post on X on Saturday, the IDF said, "Following the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar, Haddad assumed his role and worked to rebuild Hamas' capabilities and planned numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops."
Israel said Haddad had taken over the role after Mohammed Sinwar was killed.
The forces also said, “Haddad was involved in the holding of many Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity and managed Hamas’ hostage captivity system by surrounding himself with hostages in an attempt to prevent his elimination.”
Israeli forces also said they killed two Hamas operatives, Hamer Iyad Muhammad Almatouk and Khaled Muhammad Salem Joudeh, in separate operations. The IDF accused the two men of infiltrating Israel during the October 7 attacks and said they had recently attempted to carry out attacks against Israeli troops operating in the area.
Haddad was one of Hamas’ longest-serving commanders and joined the organisation during its early establishment in the 1980s, according to the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), as cited by AP.
He maintained close ties with Hamas leadership and held several senior positions, including commander of the Gaza City Brigade and other units. He was also a member of Hamas’ Military Council, one of the group’s top command bodies that played a key role in planning the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
The October 7 attacks killed around 1,200 people in Israel, while more than 250 people were taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli figures.
At least seven Palestinians, including Haddad, were killed and dozens injured in two Israeli airstrikes targeting a residential building and a civilian vehicle in Gaza City on Friday. Israel’s military chief described the killing as a “significant operation” and said the country would continue pursuing its enemies to hold them accountable.
Haddad’s death adds to the growing list of senior Hamas military commanders killed during Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed more than 72,700 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but is staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records that are generally viewed as reliable by the international community.
The killing comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, with major issues such as the disarmament of Hamas continuing to stall progress in negotiations. Despite the ceasefire, which took effect in October, Gaza has continued to witness near-daily Israeli strikes, with more than 850 people reported killed since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violations since the ceasefire began.
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