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Israeli forces target senior Hamas commander
Israel announced on Saturday that it had killed Raed Saad, the head of weapons production for Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in an airstrike on a vehicle in Gaza City.
Saad's role and Israel's claims
In a joint statement, the Israeli military (IDF) and Shin Bet security agency said Saad was "eliminated" and had been responsible for the deaths of numerous Israeli soldiers through explosive devices in the Gaza Strip. They described him as one of the most prominent Qassam Brigades commanders and a key figure in Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israeli communities east of Gaza City.
Casualties and Hamas response
Hamas-run Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the BBC that four people died in the strike, including Saad's aide and another Hamas official, Abu Imad al-Laban. Basal added that several bystanders were injured in the blast. A local Hamas official confirmed the deaths to the BBC but provided no further details.
The BBC noted it cannot independently verify the incident, as Israeli restrictions prevent its journalists from reporting inside Gaza.
Saad's history and Israel's pursuit
Saad was a long-standing target for Israel, with assassination attempts spanning over two decades. One of the most notable occurred in March 2024, when Israeli forces raided a Gaza City complex where he was believed to be hiding. Saad escaped moments before the operation.
He was also reportedly part of Hamas's newly formed five-member military leadership council, established after the October ceasefire.
Broader context of the conflict
The strike took place on the Palestinian-controlled side of the so-called Yellow Line, a demarcation dividing Gaza since a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on 10 October. Israeli forces control the eastern half of the territory.
The attack follows the 7 October Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. While most hostages have been released, the remains of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, 24, are still unaccounted for. Gvili is believed to have died fighting Hamas gunmen in Kibbutz Alumim.
According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations since the conflict escalated.
Diplomatic efforts and future plans
Diplomatic discussions are now centered on the next phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, which calls for Hamas's disarmament as part of a broader "de-radicalisation and redevelopment" strategy for Gaza.
The plan proposes a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, overseen by a "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump. An International Stabilisation Force would provide security, though its composition remains unspecified. The long-term goal is for a reformed Palestinian Authority to assume control, with Israeli forces withdrawing and a pathway to Palestinian statehood potentially emerging.
However, the proposal faces significant opposition in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood. Trump is scheduled to meet Netanyahu in the U.S. on 29 December to discuss the plan's next steps.
