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Hamas confirms death of top commander in Israeli strike
Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, commander of Hamas's armed wing, was killed in an Israeli air strike on a Gaza City residential building on Friday, a Hamas official told the BBC. Israel described him as a key figure behind the October 7 attacks.
Israeli leadership hails targeted operation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a joint statement calling Haddad "one of the architects of the October 7 massacre," responsible for the deaths, kidnappings, and injuries of thousands of Israelis. They vowed to continue targeting Hamas operatives.
Strike details and casualties
Three missiles hit the Al-Mu'taz apartment block in central Gaza City, igniting a large fire, according to eyewitnesses. Rescue teams struggled to evacuate the wounded, with one witness reporting a body and several injured removed from the rubble.
A second strike targeted a car fleeing the scene, killing three people. Witnesses and local sources said the vehicle may have carried Haddad after he was critically injured in the initial attack. Hamas members in civilian clothing reportedly evacuated him from the building before the car was hit 1.5km away.
Ceasefire violations and ongoing tensions
A ceasefire took effect on October 10, but Israel has continued strikes across Gaza, citing the right to target Hamas members. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the truce by attacking civilians, while Israel claims Hamas has refused to disarm as required by the agreement.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports 857 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began, bringing the total death toll to over 72,744 since Israel's military campaign started in response to the October 7 attacks.
Stalled peace efforts and governance disputes
US-led negotiations for Gaza's demilitarization and reconstruction have stalled amid broader regional conflicts. The second phase of a US-backed plan, announced in January, envisioned a transitional technocratic administration governing Gaza alongside reconstruction efforts. However, talks on disarmament remain deadlocked.
Netanyahu and Gallant accused Haddad of blocking the US-brokered agreement to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas has reactivated its police force, signaling a reassertion of control in the territory.
Background: The October 7 attacks
The two-year conflict was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis.
