A Hamas official has confirmed to the BBC that Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, commander of the group's armed wing, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Haddad was responsible for the death and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers. Israel referred to him as one of the architects of the October 7 massacre.
The air strike is the latest in a series of attacks by Israel despite a ceasefire with Hamas. Eyewitnesses described the scene of destruction, where a residential building known as Al-Mu'taz was struck by three missiles, igniting a large fire in the center of Gaza City. Rescue teams faced significant challenges in evacuating the wounded, with local reports indicating that a body and several injured individuals were recovered.
Following the initial strike, a second attack targeted a car seen fleeing the area, which reportedly resulted in three additional fatalities. Sources suggest that the vehicle may have been transporting Haddad after he sustained injuries in the first attack. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that armed members of Hamas evacuated a severely wounded person through a side entrance and transferred him to a vehicle, which was later hit approximately 1.5 km from the apartment block.
Israel's security officials indicated that the attack on Haddad was executed successfully. Despite a ceasefire in Gaza that began on October 10, Israel has carried out frequent strikes, which Hamas accuses of violating the ceasefire and harming civilians, while Israel claims it retains the right to target Hamas operatives. This renewed violence arises amidst stalled US-led peace negotiations aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict and disarmament issues in Gaza.
The air strike is the latest in a series of attacks by Israel despite a ceasefire with Hamas. Eyewitnesses described the scene of destruction, where a residential building known as Al-Mu'taz was struck by three missiles, igniting a large fire in the center of Gaza City. Rescue teams faced significant challenges in evacuating the wounded, with local reports indicating that a body and several injured individuals were recovered.
Following the initial strike, a second attack targeted a car seen fleeing the area, which reportedly resulted in three additional fatalities. Sources suggest that the vehicle may have been transporting Haddad after he sustained injuries in the first attack. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that armed members of Hamas evacuated a severely wounded person through a side entrance and transferred him to a vehicle, which was later hit approximately 1.5 km from the apartment block.
Israel's security officials indicated that the attack on Haddad was executed successfully. Despite a ceasefire in Gaza that began on October 10, Israel has carried out frequent strikes, which Hamas accuses of violating the ceasefire and harming civilians, while Israel claims it retains the right to target Hamas operatives. This renewed violence arises amidst stalled US-led peace negotiations aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict and disarmament issues in Gaza.
