Izz al-Din al-Haddad, described by Israel as a long-serving Hamas commander who replaced Mohammed Sinwar and helped plan the Oct. 7 attacks, was killed in a strike in Gaza City, Israeli officials said. The IDF said he led Hamas’ military wing, helped hold Isra
A long-serving Hamas commander described by Israel as a key figure in the planning of the Oct. 7 attacks was killed in Gaza City, Israeli officials said, setting off fresh debate over how Gaza’s war is being fought and who is being targeted.
Israel Defense Forces officials said Izz al-Din al-Haddad, identified as head of Hamas’ military wing, was killed on Friday and announced the death on Saturday. The IDF said he replaced Mohammed Sinwar and helped plan the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
The IDF said Haddad “was involved in the holding of many Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity” amid the war in Gaza.. In the same statement. the Israeli military said Haddad “surrounded himself with hostages to prevent his elimination.” The IDF added that Haddad joined Hamas during its early establishment and maintained close ties with Hamas leadership before his death.. It also said he recently operated “to rehabilitate Hamas’ military wing capabilities.”
Haddad was killed in a “precise strike” in Gaza City, the IDF said.. Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Lt.. Gen.. Eyal Zamir framed the death as part of a wider reckoning, saying, “This is an important closing of a circle.. In all the conversations I had with the abductees who returned, the name of the master murderer, Iz al-Din Haddad …. came up time and time again.”
Haddad’s family confirmed his death to a U.S. news service. The family said he was killed alongside six others. Haddad’s funeral was held in Gaza City on Saturday.
The timing of the killing has landed amid other attacks in Gaza City.. A U.S.. news service reported that two Israeli strikes hit Gaza City on Friday—one targeted a building and another a vehicle.. Health officials in the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Saraya Field Hospital and Shifa hospital told the news service that seven people were killed and dozens more were wounded in the strikes.
The pattern Israel describes ties multiple claims together: the IDF says Haddad replaced Mohammed Sinwar. led Hamas’ military wing. and was involved in holding “many Israeli hostages. ” then says it was because of that role that he “surrounded himself with hostages to prevent his elimination”—followed by the announcement that he was killed in a “precise strike” in Gaza City.
With Haddad dead. Israeli officials present the strike as both a military blow and a message aimed at the hostage issue central to the conflict.. For families in Gaza City. the announcement arrives with immediate human consequences already tied to Friday’s strikes. including reports of seven deaths and dozens of injuries. as well as the family’s confirmation that he died alongside six others.
Israel Hamas Izz al-Din al-Haddad Gaza City Oct. 7 Mohammed Sinwar Israeli hostages Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir precise strike
So they finally got him? About time.
They say he was holding hostages like that makes it somehow cleaner. Also “precise strike” always sounds like PR to me. I’m sure it’ll just escalate everything anyway.
Wait I thought Oct 7 planning was all like, one guy in a bunker? If he replaced Sinwar then does that mean Sinwar is still alive? Confusing wording.
“Surrounded himself with hostages” is such a crazy sentence. So was the whole point he was using them as a shield? But then they’re like closing a circle… idk. Feels like they’re targeting whoever they want and calling it hostage rescue.