Israel confirmed on Saturday that Ezzedine Al-Haddad, the chief of Hamas's armed wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza the previous day. Hamas officials also confirmed his death, describing it as an assassination.
Details of the Strike
The Israeli military said the strike was carried out on Friday in Gaza City, targeting Al-Haddad, whom it described as an architect of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The military, along with the Shin Bet security agency, stated that Al-Haddad was eliminated in a precise strike. Two Hamas officials confirmed the death, with one senior official stating that Al-Haddad was killed when an Israeli strike hit a residential apartment and a civilian vehicle in Gaza City. His wife and daughter were also killed in the attack, according to a Hamas source.
Role in Hamas
The Israeli military described Al-Haddad as one of the last senior commanders in Hamas's military wing who directed the planning and execution of the October 7 massacre. It also accused him of managing Hamas's hostage captivity system and surrounding himself with hostages to prevent his own elimination. Israel's military chief, Lt. Col. Eyal Zamir, called the killing a significant operational achievement, noting that the name of Al-Haddad repeatedly came up in conversations with returned hostages.
Broader Campaign
Since the October 7 attack, which left 1,221 people dead and 251 hostages taken to Gaza, according to Israeli figures, Israel has waged an extensive campaign targeting Hamas leaders. This includes the assassinations of Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, as well as strikes against Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed over 72,700 people, according to the territory's health ministry, a figure considered reliable by the United Nations.
Current Situation
Despite an October ceasefire, daily violence continues in Gaza, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. At least 856 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while Israel reports five soldiers killed in Gaza over the same period.
