The Israeli officials on Saturday (local time) said that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a long-serving commander who helped plan the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, was killed on Friday.
He was the head of Hamas’s military wing and had replaced , the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a news release.
The IDF added that following the elimination of Sinwar, Haddad assumed his role, worked to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities, and planned numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.
Throughout the war, Haddad was also 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.
Who was Izz al-Din al-Haddad?
Haddad was reportedly one of the longest-serving commanders in Hamas and one of the last senior commanders involved in the planning of the massacre. He joined the group during its early establishment and maintained close ties with Hamas leadership.
Throughout his time in the group, Haddad played a key role in Hamas’ terrorist rule and held several senior positions, including commander of the Gaza City Brigade and commander of additional units.
According to The Times of Israel, a Hamas official had described Haddad as the “Ghost of al-Qassam” because of his low profile. He had previously survived several attempts by Israel and had a bounty of $750,000 on his head. His two sons were both killed in the war.
He rose through the ranks of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, eventually taking over as its chief, Arab and Israeli officials said. He was also in al-Majd, the Hamas internal security group that hunts those who collaborate with Israel and spies. Al-Majd was previously led by .
Additionally, profiles of Haddad described him as someone who kept an extremely low profile, spoke Hebrew, and carried photos of Israeli hostages on his cellphone.
IDF chief reacts to Haddad’s killing
Commenting on Haddad’s killing, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in a statement, said, “This is an important closing of a circle. In all the conversations I had with the abductees who returned, the name of the master murderer, Iz al-Din Haddad … came up time and time again.”
The Israeli army said that Haddad was killed in a “precise strike” in Gaza. His family also confirmed his death to the news agency AP, and his funeral was held in on Saturday.
The Times of Israel on Friday reported that shortly after the airstrike, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement confirming that they had authorised the order to target Haddad, calling him the “commander of Hamas’s military wing.”
The statement further said, “Al-Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted upon thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.” The two leaders also noted that Haddad held Israeli hostages in brutal captivity and “orchestrated terrorist attacks against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement advanced by US President for Hamas’s disarmament and the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli airstrike on Gaza
The airstrike, which came amid a shaky ceasefire between Israel and the terror group, targeted a residential building in Gaza City’s Riman neighbourhood. Footage circulated online showed a huge cloud of dust and smoke emerging from the burning building.
Health officials at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Saraya Field Hospital and Shifa Hospital told AP that at least seven people were killed and dozens more were wounded in the strikes.
Citing a military source, The Times of Israel reported that the Air Force struck a hideout apartment where Haddad was supposedly present, along with a vehicle that left the location at the same time, to prevent an attempt by the Hamas leader to flee.
As many as three jets took part in the strike and dropped 13 bombs on the site.
However, the recent strikes have now thrown the future of the shaky ceasefire into question.
(with agency inputs)
