Top Hamas military commander in Gaza killed in Israeli airstrike

Hamas' top military commander, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, was killed in an aerial strike in Gaza City on Friday, the IDF confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

According to Israeli media reports, three Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets dropped 13 munitions on the building where Haddad was hiding. An unnamed Hamas official confirmed with the BBC that Haddad had been eliminated in the IAF strike, while mosques in Gaza reportedly announced that Haddad had been “martyred.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir described the operation as a “significant operational achievement.” Haddad was considered the last remaining senior architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel during which 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped into Gaza.

"In every conversation I held with the hostages who returned, the name of the arch-terrorist Izz al-Din al-Haddad, one of the chief perpetrators of the October 7 massacre and the head of Hamas’ military wing, came up again and again," Zamir stated. "Today, we succeeded in eliminating him.”

He vowed that the IDF would pursue all remaining Hamas terrorists, saying, "We will not relent until we reach them all – this is our duty to all those who returned and to all citizens of the State of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement that al-Haddad was the target of the Israeli strike : "Haddad was responsible for the murder, kidnapping, and harming of thousands of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers."

"He held our hostages captive with severe cruelty, launched terrorist acts against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement led by US President Trump to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. The IDF and Shin Bet are implementing well the government's policy of not containing threats and defeating our enemies ahead of time," the Israeli leaders added.

The Israeli government reportedly had approved the operation targeting al-Haddad some 10 days earlier, according to Israeli media. Prior to the strike, the IAF conducted a “deception operation” aimed at convincing Hamas that no unusual Israeli military activity was taking place in the airspace between Gaza and Israel.

In 2025, Haddad replaced Mohammed Sinwar as the top Hamas leader in Gaza following Sinwar's assassination by the IAF. Haddad reportedly rejected the disarmament of Hamas as stipulated in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October 2025.

While Haddad's elimination is viewed as a significant blow to the terrorist organization, it is unclear whether his death will change Hamas’ hardline stance in the negotiations over Gaza’s future.

Former hostage Emily Damari, who met Haddad during her captivity in Gaza, celebrated the strike on the Hamas commander.

"It’s official, [Izz] al-Din al-Haddad has been eliminated! Thanks to all the security forces and those involved in the operation," Damari wrote on social media.

"Shabbat Shalom to all Israel. This is a very important closure for many people. He planned October 7, murdered my friends and many other dear people; he planned my kidnapping and also held me in Hamas tunnels. With God’s help, we will reach every one of these terrorist scum," she added.

Last September, Damari spoke to 'Son of Hamas' Mosab Hassan Yousef about her long captivity and her meeting with Haddad in Gaza.

Former hostage Liri Albag responded to the news on Instagram by citing a popular Arabic proverb: "Every dog gets its day, and you are a dog," she wrote.