Israel says it has killed a Hamas commander known as ‘one of the architects of the October 7 massacre’ in a missile strike over Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said an airstrike carried out by the military on Friday evening targeted Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the leader of Hamas’s Qassam brigades.
The pair said in a joint statement that Haddad had been ‘responsible for the murder, kidnapping and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.’
Hamas did not confirm or deny the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who became the militant group’s military chief in the Gaza Strip after Israel killed commander Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025.
There were at least two Israeli strikes on Friday in Gaza City, one of which Israel said targeted al-Haddad.
One strike targeted a residential building and another a vehicle.
Seven people were killed and dozens of others wounded, according to health officials in the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Saraya Field Hospital and Shifa Hospital, where casualties were taken.
Gaza has seen near-daily Israeli fire despite a fragile ceasefire agreement reached in October.
Israel says it has killed Hamas commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad (pictured) known as ‘one of the architects of the October 7 massacre’
People inspect the remains of a destroyed vehicle after Israeli airstrikes hit a residential building and this nearby car in the Al-Remal area on May 15, 2026 in Gaza City
An injured woman is carried after Israeli airstrikes hit a residential building and a nearby car in the Al-Remal area on May 15, 2026 in Gaza City
More than 850 people have been killed since then, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Netanyahu and Katz threatened that Israel would continue to work against all those who took part in the October 7 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Over 72,700 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas’ 2023 attack.
‘Sooner or later, Israel will reach you,’ the statement read.
Palestinian citizens reported more airstrikes that followed the one that targeted al-Haddad. It was not immediately clear what the Israeli military was targeting.
Since the shaky ceasefire was reached, both Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violations.
Israel has targeted Hamas members inside the coastal enclave, the last of whom was the son of Hamas’ lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya.
