Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Friday targeted senior Hamas commander Izz al‑Din al‑Haddad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Katz announced in a joint statement. The attack, described as the first strike on a high‑ranking Hamas official since the U.S.‑backed cease‑fire agreement of October, killed at least seven people and injured more than 50, according to Gaza emergency services. The wounded were taken to Al‑Shifa Hospital. Israeli officials said al‑Haddad was one of the “architects” of the Oct. 7 assault and was involved in holding hostages, while also rejecting a disarmament plan advanced by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Al‑Haddad assumed command of Hamas’s military wing last year after Israeli forces killed Muhammad Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Neither side confirmed whether al‑Haddad was killed or wounded in the strike.
The operation comes amid a fragile truce that has been in place since last year. Under the agreement, Israeli forces maintain control over a large, largely depopulated area of the enclave, while Hamas continues to govern a narrow coastal strip. Both parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the cease‑fire, and discussions on implementing Trump’s post‑war proposal for Gaza have stalled.
Since the conflict began, Palestinian health authorities report more than 72,000 deaths and over 172,000 injuries in Gaza. The extensive destruction and civilian toll have intensified international criticism of Israel’s military campaign and its blockade of the territory. Calls for sanctions and a reassessment of Western support for Israel have grown as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
The latest strikes underscore the continued volatility of the Gaza front and the challenges of translating cease‑fire arrangements into lasting peace. Further developments will depend on both sides’ willingness to adhere to the truce and on diplomatic efforts to revive a comprehensive settlement for the region.
