Gaza City, 17 May (H.S.):

Israel killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the chief of Hamas’s armed wing, in a precise airstrike on Gaza City on Friday, delivering the most significant blow to the Palestinian militant group since a U.S.-backed ceasefire took effect last October.

Hamas confirmed al-Haddad’s death in a formal statement, acknowledging that he was killed alongside his wife and 19-year-old daughter during the strike that targeted an apartment building in central Gaza City. The group described al-Haddad as a central figure responsible for directing combat operations across the enclave.

The Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic security agency jointly announced the operation Saturday, calling al-Haddad “an architect of the October 7, 2023 attacks” that triggered the current war and labeling him responsible for “the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted on thousands of Israeli civilians and soldiers”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issuing the announcement with his defense minister, underscored that al-Haddad had become Hamas’s military chief in Gaza after Israel killed Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025.

Nicknamed “the Ghost” by Hamas sources, al-Haddad had survived multiple Israeli assassination attempts over the years. Israel’s military characterized him as one of Hamas’s longest-serving commanders, having risen through the ranks since the group’s formation in the 1980s to hold several senior positions before assuming command of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

A joint funeral for al-Haddad, his wife, and daughter was held Saturday at Al Aqsa Martyrs Mosque in central Gaza, drawing mourners who identified the bodies as the slain commander and his family .

Ceasefire Fractures as Casualties Mount

The strike occurred despite a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement intended to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas. Israeli forces have repeatedly carried out strikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began, and casualty figures have continued to climb.

According to local health officials, approximately 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since October, though the figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

During the same period, four Israeli soldiers were killed by militants. Hamas does not disclose casualty numbers among its fighters.

In addition to al-Haddad’s killing, Israel launched at least two other attacks on Gaza on Friday, killing seven Palestinians including three women and one child, according to local medics.

On Saturday, two separate Israeli airstrikes killed at least three more people: two men near Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and another person in the Jabalia refugee camp in the north.

Stalled Peace Talks and Escalating Violence

Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect negotiations aimed at advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s post-war plan for Gaza, which is intended to end more than two years of fighting. The Trump administration has been mediating a broader regional de-escalation following Israel’s joint bombing operations with the United States against Iran.

In recent weeks, Israel has intensified attacks in Gaza after halting joint operations with the U.S. in Iran, redirecting its military focus back to the devastated Palestinian territory. The Israeli military claims that Hamas fighters are tightening their grip on Gaza despite the ongoing ceasefire.

Al-Haddad’s elimination represents a significant operational disruption for Hamas, though militant groups have historically restructured command chains quickly after senior leaders are killed. The strike also raises new questions about the durability of the ceasefire and the prospects for a lasting political resolution to the conflict.

As funerals proceed and tensions remain elevated, the international community faces renewed pressure to reconcile Israel’s security demands with Palestinian humanitarian needs—and to prevent further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar