Top Hamas commander Raad Saad killed by IDF strike in Gaza City — official |
Top Hamas commander Raad Saad was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces said, in an escalatory move that Israel claimed was a response to violations of a ceasefire by the terror group.
Saad, head of Hamas’s weapons manufacturing headquarters and one of the architects of the terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught, was one of the few remaining members of Hamas’s top military brass in the Gaza Strip and was considered only second to the terror group’s latest military chief, Izz al-Din Haddad.
The strike hit a vehicle traveling along the coastal Rashid Road, on the Hamas-controlled side of the Gaza ceasefire line, according to Palestinian media, which reported four people killed and over 20 injured.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a joint statement, said that Saad was killed in response to the injury of two troops by an explosive in southern Gaza several hours prior.
In its own statement, the IDF said that in recent weeks, “repeated attempts by the Hamas terror organization to carry out terrorist attacks were identified, including the use of explosive devices against IDF troops, actions that constitute a blatant violation of the agreement, as occurred this morning.”
“In parallel, the IDF identified attempts by the organization to restore and build up its capabilities,” the military said, adding that Saad “led Hamas’s force buildup, and his elimination constitutes a significant blow to the organization’s ability to rearm.”
The military published footage of the strike. A military source said that “Saad had long been a target for elimination,” and that the strike was carried out following fresh information obtained by the Intelligence Directorate on Saad’s whereabouts.
Israel did not give the US advanced notice before the airstrike, according to the Axios news site.
“Saad was a leading figure in the leadership of Hamas’s military wing in recent months and was directly responsible for violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Hamas terror organization. In addition, in his role, he led the continued production of weapons in the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire,” the IDF said in its statement.
The military said Saad held several senior roles in the terror group and was considered close to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, assassinated in 2004; military chief Mohammed Deif, killed in July 2024; and deputy head of the military wing Marwan........