An Israeli airstrike killed the chief of Hamas’s navy wing in Gaza, the Israeli navy mentioned on Saturday. He was probably the most senior Hamas official to be killed by Israel since a cease-fire started final fall.
The Hamas commander, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, took over the group’s military wing in Gaza final 12 months, after Israeli forces killed Muhammad Sinwarthe brother of Yahya Sinwar, an architect of Hamas’s lethal assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Salama Maaroof, the director of the Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace, confirmed Mr. al-Haddad’s dying in a put up on social media. Hamas’s official broadcaster, Al-Aqsa TV, mentioned a whole bunch of Gazans had borne Mr. al-Haddad’s physique in a funeral procession in Gaza Metropolis on Saturday.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli navy’s chief of employees, mentioned in an announcement on Saturday that the killing of Mr. al-Haddad was “a big operational achievement.”
Israel’s prime minister and protection minister introduced the strike in opposition to Mr. al-Haddad in a joint assertion on Friday, describing him as one other architect of the October 2023 assault. They mentioned that he had “refused to implement the settlement” brokered by President Trump “to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.”
The airstrike hit a constructing in Gaza, and the Israeli Air Drive additionally struck across the construction with a view to forestall an escape, in response to two Israeli protection officers who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate operations in Gaza.
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Protection, an emergency service below the Hamas-run inside ministry, mentioned on Saturday that a minimum of six folks had been killed within the assaults, with out specifying whether or not Mr. al-Haddad was amongst them.
Consultants, in addition to a senior official of Mr. Trump’s Board of Peace, say that Israel has repeatedly violated the October 2025 cease-fire with virtually every day airstrikes in Gaza. Consultants additionally say Israel has violated the settlement by taking management of territory past the truce strains and by hampering the supply of humanitarian assist and rubble removing gear.
Israeli officers have accused Hamas leaders, together with Mr. al-Haddad, of violating the cease-fire by making an attempt to revive their navy talents and planning new assaults.
Mr. al-Haddad, in his mid-50s, was believed to be firmly against Israeli efforts to dislodge Hamas from energy in Gaza, and was regarded as based mostly in Gaza Metropolis. Because the Oct. 7 assault, he has been the one senior Hamas commander to provide an on-the-record interview, appearing in an Al Jazeera documentary that aired final 12 months.
Recognized to his Hamas compatriots as Abu Suheib, he was one of many few remaining dwelling commanders who was a member of the militant group’s high-level navy council on Oct. 7, 2023. A Hebrew speaker, Mr. al-Haddad additionally hung out with Israeli hostages in northern Gaza, in response to Israeli officers. He rose into increased management positions as Israel killed one senior Hamas chief after one other, together with Muhammad Deif, the chief of the navy wing; Mr. Deif’s prime deputy, Marwan Issa; and the Sinwar brothers.
Data from the Gaza well being ministry point out that Mr. al-Haddad’s eldest son, Suheib, was among the many folks killed in the course of the conflict, which has left tens of hundreds of Gazans useless. In April, the Shin Guess, Israel’s home intelligence company, announced the killing of Mahmoud Abu Hiseirawhom it described as Mr. al-Haddad’s right-hand man.
Thus far, Hamas has resisted calls for that it relinquish its navy wing’s weapons. A prime official of the Board of Peace, Nickolay Mladenov, accused Hamas this week of blocking efforts to assist Palestinians, and urged it to surrender its weapons and make room for the Nationwide Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a U.S.-appointed group of Palestinian technocrats ready to enter Gaza and assume management over authorities capabilities.
A Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassim, mentioned this week that the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza was prepared at hand over the administration of the territory to the Nationwide Committee, with out saying whether or not the group’s navy wing was keen to surrender its weapons.
Ronen Bergman, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Adam Rasgon, Aaron Boxerman and Lynsey Chutel contributed reporting.