High-Profile Hamas Figure Reportedly Killed in Gaza Airstrike Amidst Ceasefire Violations
Gaza City – Israel announced Saturday that it had conducted a targeted airstrike in Gaza City, claiming to have killed a key figure involved in the planning of Hamas’ October 7th attacks. The strike, according to Israeli authorities, was a direct response to a bomb explosion that injured two Israeli soldiers earlier the same day.
The Gaza civil defense agency, which operates under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, reported a different account of the incident. They stated that an airstrike had resulted in five fatalities and injured 25 others. It remains unclear whether both sides are referring to the same event.
Who was Raed Saad?
The individual identified by Israel as the target of the strike is Raed Saad. Israel has described him as “one of the architects” of the October 7th Hamas assault on Israel. While local authorities have not officially confirmed Saad’s death, his family informed the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency that funeral arrangements were being made for him on Sunday.
The Israeli military further asserted that Saad was instrumental in Hamas’ weapons production efforts. In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Saad was targeted “in response to the detonation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded [two of] our forces today in the Yellow Area of the Gaza Strip.”
An anonymous eyewitness described the scene to AFP, recounting that “Warplanes fired several missiles at the vehicle, setting it ablaze. Residents rushed to extinguish the fire, and charred body parts were scattered on the ground.”
Continued Violence During Fragile Ceasefire
If Israel’s claim of killing Raed Saad is accurate, it would represent the most significant assassination of a Hamas official since a fragile ceasefire was put in place on October 10th. Hamas sources have identified Saad as the second-in-command of the group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.
As has been a recurring pattern, both Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the October 10th ceasefire on Saturday. Israel argued that Saad’s alleged activities in “reestablish[ing] Hamas’ capabilities and weapons manufacturing” constituted a “blatant violation of the ceasefire.” Conversely, Hamas condemned Israel’s airstrike targeting Saad as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Despite Israel’s withdrawal to positions behind a designated “yellow line,” it continues to exert control over more than half of the Gaza Strip. This control extends to the border crossings in and out of the heavily devastated territory.
The October 7th Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals who were held hostage. Reports indicate that at least 80 of these hostages died while in captivity.
In retaliation, Israel launched a comprehensive military campaign against Hamas. This offensive has led to the near-total destruction of Gaza and the tragic loss of over 70,000 Palestinian lives, with the majority believed to be civilians.
While the intensity of the violence has decreased since the October 10th ceasefire, it has not ceased entirely. Palestinian health authorities report that Israel has killed at least 386 individuals since the ceasefire began. Israel, in turn, has stated that three of its soldiers have lost their lives during this period.
