GAZA CITY — The Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday that they have successfully eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the top leader of Hamas’ military wing and a primary architect behind the October 7,2023 attacks. According to military officials, Haddad was killed during a targeted airstrike in Gaza City on Friday. He was considered one of the final remaining high-ranking commanders within the militant group’s armed apparatus who directly oversaw the planning and execution of the incursions into southern Israel that triggered the ongoing war.
Haddad had recently assumed supreme command of the military wing following the death of his predecessor, Mohammed Sinwar, who was also eliminated in a prior Israeli operation. On Saturday, Haddad’s family officially confirmed his death to the Associated Press, marking a significant blow to the group’s operational command structure.
The high-profile elimination comes at a highly critical juncture, as the current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains incredibly fragile. Diplomatic negotiations have repeatedly stalled over non-negotiable issues, most notably the comprehensive disarmament of Hamas, threatening the long-term progress of the peace deal.
