Israeli strike kills Hamas military wing leader in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed the leader of Hamas’ military wing, one of the last surviving architects of the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza, the Israeli military said on Saturday.

Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed on Friday, Israel’s army said, describing him as was one of the last senior commanders in Hamas’ military who had directed the planning and execution of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. The attacks killed some 1,200 people in Israel and saw more than 250 taken hostage into Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed more than 72,700 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run Government, but staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records, viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

Al-Haddad’s killing comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, as key issues like the disarmament of Hamas stall the deal’s progress. Despite the ceasefire, which went into effect in October, Gaza has seen near-daily Israeli fire with more than 850 people being killed since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Al-Haddad was the latest Hamas commander to be killed by Israel. Israel said he had assumed the role after his predecessor, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed. The army said al-Haddad had surrounded himself with Israeli hostages during the war as a shield against an attack.

Al-Haddad’s family confirmed to The Associated Press his death in Friday’s strike along with six other people.

His funeral was held Saturday in Gaza City. His body was wrapped in Hamas and Palestinians flags as it was carried by mourners. He joined Hamas when it was established in the 1980s, and was a member of the Qassam Brigades’ Majd section, which was tasked to go after collaborators with Israel.

He was also a member of Hamas’ Military Council, the highest group of commanders that played a key role in the attacks that sparked the war.

Israel’s chief of staff for the army called his killing a significant operation, and said Israel would continue pursuing its enemies to hold them accountable.

Since the shaky ceasefire was reached, both Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violations. Israel has targeted Hamas members inside the coastal enclave, the last of whom was the son of Hamas’ lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya.  Violence also flared Saturday in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli troops shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian in the Jenin refugee camp, according to the Palestinian Health ministry.

Hassan Fayyad was fatally shot in his thigh, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Israel’s military said troops first fired warning shots at a person trying to infiltrate the Jenin camp and then shot him again when he didn’t comply. They later provided him medical treatment as he was transferred to the hospital, it said.

Israeli troops on Thursday shot and killed a 15-year-old boy in Eastern Lubban town in Nablus, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israel’s military said it identified three people hurling rocks toward Israeli vehicles and “endangering lives,” and troops fired at them, killing one of them.