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3. Israel Announces Killing of Senior Hamas Commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad

The Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency announced on Saturday that they had killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a senior commander in Hamas’s military wing whom Israeli officials described as one of the last high-ranking leaders involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks.

In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet said Haddad played a central role in Hamas’s wartime command structure in Gaza and was involved in overseeing the captivity of Israeli hostages held by the group during the war. Israeli officials alleged that Haddad operated in close proximity to hostages and managed parts of Hamas’s hostage-holding system as protection against targeted Israeli strikes.

According to the IDF, Haddad was among Hamas’s veteran leadership figures, having joined the organization during its early years. Over decades within the movement, he held several senior military positions, including commander of the Gaza City Brigade and leadership roles across other Hamas military units.

Israel has identified Haddad as one of the most senior Hamas commanders remaining in Gaza following a sustained Israeli campaign targeting the group’s leadership since the outbreak of the war. Israeli officials said he was directly linked to Hamas’s military operations and decision-making during the conflict.

The announcement comes as Israel continues its broader effort to dismantle Hamas’s command structure after the October 7 attacks, during which Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted more than 250 others, according to Israeli authorities.

Hamas had not immediately issued a formal statement regarding Haddad’s death at the time of publication.

The killing is likely to be viewed by Israeli officials as another major symbolic and operational blow to Hamas leadership, though analysts have noted throughout the war that the group has maintained fighting capabilities through decentralized networks and lower-level commanders operating across Gaza.