Despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, Israel carried out strikes on Gaza City killing Hamas’ most senior military leader, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, according to a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Security Agency.
The Israeli strikes on Friday killed at least seven people, with more than 50 others injured and taken to Al-Shifa Hospital, according to the emergency services in Gaza.
The Israeli military said al-Haddad had been killed in what it called a “precise strike.”
After the announcement, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed to “continue to pursue our enemies, strike them and hold accountable everyone who took part in the October 7th massacre.”
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem confirmed al-Haddad’s death on Saturday, calling him “one of the greatest fighters of our Palestinian people.” Social media footage appeared to show al-Haddad’s coffin being carried through the streets of Gaza on Saturday as crowds gathered to mourn the leader.
Israel accused al-Haddad of being responsible for and one of the “architects” behind the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and for holding hostages in the attack’s aftermath. Israel also accused al-Haddad of refusing “to implement the agreement led by US President (Donald) Trump for Hamas to disarm and for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.”
Credit: cnn.com
