By Paul Joseph
Hamas has confirmed the killing of senior Qassam Brigades commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City.
In a statement released on Saturday, Hamas described the attack as a “treacherous and cowardly assassination,” accusing Israel of intensifying attacks on both resistance figures and civilians in Gaza.
According to the group, al-Haddad, who headed Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, was killed alongside his wife, daughter and several other Palestinians during strikes carried out on Friday evening in the Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz had earlier announced that Israeli forces targeted and killed al-Haddad, describing him as one of the alleged planners of the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Medical sources in Gaza said at least seven people were killed during the strikes, including women and a baby, while dozens of others sustained injuries after explosions hit a residential building and a civilian vehicle.
Witnesses said the attack triggered panic across the area as fire engulfed parts of the residential neighbourhood, forcing many residents to flee.
Hamas claimed the operation represented another violation of the Gaza ceasefire arrangement and accused Israel of continuing what it called aggression against civilians in the enclave.
Other Palestinian factions, including the Mujahideen Movement and its armed wing, also mourned al-Haddad, praising his role in armed resistance operations.
The latest development comes amid continued tensions and recurring exchanges of attacks despite ongoing international calls for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Gaza health authorities reported that hundreds of people have been killed or wounded since the ceasefire arrangement began last year, with hospitals continuing to receive casualties from renewed strikes across the territory.
Leave a Reply