Israel said it killed a senior Hamas commander on Saturday in a strike on a vehicle inside Gaza. In a joint statement, the Israeli military and security agency Shin Bet announced it had eliminated Raed Saad, the head of weapons production for Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in Gaza city.
Saad had been regarded as one of the most prominent Qassam commanders and led several brigades during Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israeli communities east of Gaza City. The Hamas-run Civil Defence spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, told the BBC that four people were killed in the strike, with multiple passers-by also injured by the blast.
A local Hamas official confirmed that the attack also killed Saad's aide and another lower-ranking official identified as Abu Imad al-Laban. The IDF and ISA joint statement added that Saad had been responsible for the deaths of many soldiers killed by explosive devices in the Gaza Strip, and he is believed to be a member of the newly formed leadership military council established since a ceasefire took hold in October.
Saturday's attack occurred within a Palestinian-controlled area as tensions still run high after a period of relative restraint since the ceasefire was enacted. This strike exemplifies Israel's ongoing military operations against Hamas leaders, reflecting a broader strategy to address security concerns and re-establish control in the region amid a complex backdrop of geopolitical maneuvers, including ongoing discussions of peace plans involving international oversight.
Saad had been regarded as one of the most prominent Qassam commanders and led several brigades during Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israeli communities east of Gaza City. The Hamas-run Civil Defence spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, told the BBC that four people were killed in the strike, with multiple passers-by also injured by the blast.
A local Hamas official confirmed that the attack also killed Saad's aide and another lower-ranking official identified as Abu Imad al-Laban. The IDF and ISA joint statement added that Saad had been responsible for the deaths of many soldiers killed by explosive devices in the Gaza Strip, and he is believed to be a member of the newly formed leadership military council established since a ceasefire took hold in October.
Saturday's attack occurred within a Palestinian-controlled area as tensions still run high after a period of relative restraint since the ceasefire was enacted. This strike exemplifies Israel's ongoing military operations against Hamas leaders, reflecting a broader strategy to address security concerns and re-establish control in the region amid a complex backdrop of geopolitical maneuvers, including ongoing discussions of peace plans involving international oversight.
