Israel says it killed Hamas commander Haddad in Gaza strike
Israel said it killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, described as one of the senior figures in Hamas's military wing, in an air strike on Gaza City. The military identified him as 'one of the architects' of the 7 October 2023 attack. Hamas has not commented on the reported death; news of civilian casualties from the strike has also emerged.
The Israeli military said an air strike on Gaza City had killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, described as a senior figure in Hamas's military wing. According to the BBC, the military and intelligence services described him as 'one of the architects' of the 7 October 2023 attack.
The strike targeted a multi-storey building in central Gaza. Local health officials said that a number of people remained trapped under the rubble after the strike and that there had been civilian casualties. Hamas has not so far confirmed the Israeli account that Mr al-Haddad was killed.
Indirect ceasefire talks in Gaza and US-mediated contacts along the Lebanese border had shown signs of easing in recent weeks. Analysts say a strike on this scale could harden the negotiating climate between the two sides. The US State Department said it was watching developments closely but did not issue an immediate statement.
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