Israel Kills Hamas Military Chief Izz al-Din al-Haddad — the Last Architect of October 7 — in Gaza Strike

For almost three years, Izz al-Din al-Haddad had been the most needed man in Gaza.

He had survived six Israeli assassination makes an attempt. He had moved by way of tunnels beneath a shattered metropolis whereas Israeli intelligence hunted him relentlessly. He had earned the identify “the Ghost of al-Qassam” — a nod to his skill to fade earlier than each strike closed in. Israeli hostages who had been held close to him got here dwelling and advised their debriefing officers the identical factor: that al-Haddad’s identify got here up in their captivity time and again.

He didn’t survive Friday.

Israel’s navy stated Saturday that Izz al-Din al-Haddad — the head of Hamas’ navy wing, the Qassam Brigades, and one of the final surviving senior architects of the October 7, 2023 assaults — was killed in a precision airstrike in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza Metropolis on Friday night. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem confirmed the killing on social media Saturday, calling al-Haddad “one of the best fighters of our Palestinian individuals” and the loss “profound.”

The Strike: Three Jets, 13 Munitions, a Week of Surveillance

The operation that ended al-Haddad’s life was something however impulsive.

A senior Israeli safety official stated the strike was accredited by the political echelon roughly per week and a half earlier than it was carried out. Throughout that interval, al-Haddad was below steady surveillance. Intelligence officers at the Southern Command and Military Intelligence Directorate tracked his actions till Friday night, when an “operational alternative with a excessive likelihood of profitable elimination” offered itself.

The strike consisted of three fighter jets and 13 munitions, hitting an condominium constructing in Rimal the place al-Haddad was believed to be hiding, and a automobile that left the space at the identical time. Emergency providers in Gaza stated at the very least seven individuals had been killed and greater than 50 others injured, with the wounded taken to Al-Shifa Hospital. Amongst these killed alongside al-Haddad had been his spouse and daughter. Each of his sons had been killed in earlier Israeli strikes — one in January 2025, one other in April 2025.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Protection Minister Israel Katz launched a joint assertion confirming they’d given the order to focus on al-Haddad, calling him “the commander of Hamas’s navy wing and one of the principal architects of the October 7 bloodbath.”

“Al-Haddad was answerable for the homicide, abduction, and hurt inflicted upon hundreds of Israeli civilians and IDF troopers,” the assertion stated. “He held our hostages in brutal captivity, orchestrated terrorist assaults in opposition to our forces, and refused to implement the settlement superior by US President Donald Trump for Hamas’s disarmament and the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip.”

Who Was Izz al-Din al-Haddad?

Born in Gaza in 1970, al-Haddad joined Hamas when the group was based in 1987. He rose by way of the ranks of the Qassam Brigades — Hamas’ navy wing — over three many years, serving as commander of the Gaza Metropolis Brigade and commander of further models earlier than ascending to the prime of the group’s navy hierarchy.

After Israel killed Yahya Sinwar in October 2024, al-Haddad took command of two regional instructions and 14 battalions, virtually sharing management of Hamas with Mohammed Sinwar. When Mohammed Sinwar was killed by Israel in Could 2025, al-Haddad assumed sole command of the Qassam Brigades — making him, in the IDF’s evaluation, the final remaining senior commander straight concerned in planning the October 7 assaults.

He was additionally a member of Hamas’ Military Council, the highest command physique that performed a central function in the October 7 operation. Israel accused him of being one of the major architects of the assault that killed roughly 1,200 individuals and took greater than 250 hostage into Gaza.

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The Hostage Connection: Human Shields and a Promise to Romi Gonen

Maybe the most chilling dimension of al-Haddad’s profile was his direct, private involvement with Israeli hostages held in Gaza — together with his alleged use of them as human shields.

Israeli intelligence assessed that al-Haddad personally held hostages to discourage assaults in opposition to himself, together with feminine troopers Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger from the Nahal Oz base. The IDF stated al-Haddad “surrounded himself with hostages to stop his elimination.”

Freed hostages have since described disturbing private encounters with him. In a January 2026 interview with Channel 12, Romi Gonen recounted talking to al-Haddad over a telephone throughout the finish of the November 2023 ceasefire. Al-Haddad advised her that her attacker can be discovered, and that she can be prioritized for launch — so long as she didn’t inform anybody that her captors had sexually assaulted her. Later, she and fellow hostage Emily Damari had been taken to al-Haddad’s tunnel in japanese Gaza Metropolis. Throughout her launch in January 2025, al-Haddad reportedly approached the automobile she was in and requested her: “Do you keep in mind our promise?”

Former hostage Eitan Mor advised an Israeli newspaper that shortly after he was taken hostage throughout the Nova music competition bloodbath, al-Haddad met him and advised him in Hebrew that he can be launched inside two weeks. Al-Haddad met with Mor a number of extra instances earlier than his launch in October 2025.

IDF Chief of Employees Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated after the affirmation of al-Haddad’s loss of life: “In each dialog I held with the hostages who returned, the identify of the arch-terrorist Izz al-Din al-Haddad, one of the chief perpetrators of the October 7 bloodbath and the head of Hamas’ navy wing, got here up time and again.” Zamir vowed to “proceed to pursue our enemies, strike them and maintain accountable everybody who took half in the October seventh bloodbath.”

The Ceasefire Query: Does the Strike Change Every little thing?

Al-Haddad’s killing didn’t occur in a vacuum — it occurred inside a fragile, seven-month-old ceasefire that was already struggling to outlive.

The Gaza ceasefire went into impact in October 2025, signed by Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Since then, Israel has carried out near-daily strikes in Gaza — citing imminent threats to its forces — and greater than 850 Palestinians have been killed since the truce started, in line with the Palestinian Ministry of Well being.

Simply someday earlier than the strike, Nikolay Mladenov — the official overseeing implementation of the ceasefire as director-general of the Gaza Board of Peace — acknowledged at a Jerusalem press briefing that the truce was “removed from excellent” however stated it had introduced “relative stability.” He warned {that a} extended stalemate risked cementing Gaza’s everlasting division and leaving two million Palestinians and not using a viable future.

The core impediment to progress is Hamas’ refusal to disarm. The ceasefire plan requires Hamas to demilitarize as a situation of transferring ahead. A senior Israeli official stated after Friday’s strike that al-Haddad had been “undermining Trump’s Gaza plan” — and that Hamas’ ongoing non-compliance “will proceed to have penalties.”

An Israeli safety supply advised KAN Information that if Hamas continues to refuse disarmament, the IDF is ready to restart full-scale preventing in Gaza to “full their mission.” Israel has reportedly advised Mladenov it is not going to withdraw from the so-called “yellow line” — a demarcation encompassing roughly 53% of Gaza — as long as Hamas stays armed.

Hamas Responds: “We Will Proceed the Wrestle”

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem confirmed the loss of life on social media, calling al-Haddad “a central determine in directing fight operations” and a “nice fighter.” Social media footage appeared to point out al-Haddad’s coffin being carried by way of the streets of Gaza on Saturday as giant crowds gathered. One particular person may very well be heard saying: “Relaxation in peace Abu Suhaib, and we are going to proceed the battle” — utilizing al-Haddad’s nom de guerre.

Iran’s authorities additionally launched an announcement praising al-Haddad and framing his loss of life as half of the Palestinian “resistance.” The feedback got here as tensions stay excessive throughout the Center East amid the ongoing battle involving Iran, Israel, and the United States below Operation Epic Fury.

With the ceasefire hanging by a thread, Hamas leaderless at the prime of its navy chain for the first time since the conflict started, and the Gaza Board of Peace warning of everlasting partition, the subsequent transfer — by Hamas, by Israel, and by the Trump administration’s mediators — might decide whether or not a seven-month truce survives or collapses fully into a 3rd Gaza conflict.