Israel has conducted an air strike targeting the most senior military leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
The target, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, is the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Known as the “Ghost of al-Qassam” due to his secretive nature and low profile, he is regarded as one of the movement’s most significant figures, reports CNN.
The Israeli government holds al-Haddad responsible as one of the “architects” behind the Hamas-led assault on 7 October, 2023, and for the subsequent holding of hostages.
Additionally, authorities accused him of failing to comply with a US-brokered agreement, led by President Donald Trump, which called for the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.
A senior Israeli security official indicated that preliminary reports suggest the assassination attempt was successful. However, there has been no independent confirmation of al-Haddad’s death, and Hamas has yet to provide a comment on the incident.
This development comes amid a fragile, US-brokered ceasefire that has ostensibly been in place since October.
Despite the truce, Israel has continued to carry out regular operations in Gaza, stating it is responding to imminent threats or targeting Hamas militants. Israeli forces currently occupy more than half of the destroyed enclave.
