Israel eliminates last top Hamas commander involved in October 7 attack
Photo: Israeli soldiers (Getty Images)
Israel said that during an airstrike on Gaza City, its target was Izz al-Din al-Haddad — the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the head of the group's military wing, according to The Times of Israel.
The airstrike took place on Friday, May 15, in the Rimal district of Gaza City. According to local medics, the strike hit a residential building.
Medical services reported at least three people killed and around 20 injured. It has not been officially confirmed whether al-Haddad was among the casualties.
According to an Israeli military source, the Israeli Air Force struck an apartment hideout where the Hamas leader was believed to be located. At the same time, a vehicle leaving the area was also hit to prevent escape.
Officials said three Israeli aircraft took part in the operation, dropping 13 bombs.
Shortly after the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed they had personally authorized the attack on al-Haddad.
In a joint statement, he was described as "the commander of Hamas’s military wing and one of the main organizers of the October 7 massacre."
"Al-Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted upon thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers," the statement said.
The Israeli side also claims he held hostages, organized attacks against Israeli troops, and refused to support a US-proposed plan for Hamas disarmament and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
What is known about Izz al-Din al-Haddad
Izz al-Din al-Haddad became the de facto military leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip after Israel eliminated Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025.
The publication noted that he is the highest-ranking Hamas figure targeted by Israel since the ceasefire agreement reached in October through US mediation.
Recall that negotiations between Hamas and the Peace Council on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have been jeopardized due to disputes over the group’s disarmament and the transition to the second phase of the peace deal.
It later became known that the Peace Council under US President Donald Trump is preparing a 15-point plan for Hamas disarmament, which Washington considers a necessary condition for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza after the war.
