Netanyahu announces killing of Hamas military chiefkilling of Hamas military chief in Gaza
Israel said it killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas's Qassam Brigades in Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the result in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Hamas also issued a statement mourning al-Haddad, while Israel said it had separately eliminated two other Hamas operatives who crossed into Israeli territory.
The killing matters because al-Haddad was viewed as a senior figure in Hamas's armed network and his death could affect the group's operations in Gaza.
Israeli Government
Israeli leaders presented the killing as a major battlefield success against Hamas's armed wing. Netanyahu said al-Haddad was responsible for the deaths, injuries, and abductions of many Israelis, and framed the operation as part of Israel's wider war aim of weakening Hamas.
Hamas
Hamas praised al-Haddad in a statement that emphasized sacrifice and steadfastness. The group did not accept Israel's framing and instead treated him as a fallen leader in its armed struggle.
Analysts
Analysts noted that the death of a top commander can damage command continuity and morale, even if armed groups quickly replace leaders. They also said the real effect on Hamas's Gaza operations will depend on who takes over and how much of its network remains intact.
- Hamas has often replaced slain commanders with local figures who already knew the group's networks.
- The Qassam Brigades grew from Hamas's early armed cells during the First Intifada.
- Jerusalem Day events often draw heightened security because they coincide with sensitive religious and political tensions.
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Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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