Israel Conducts Airstrikes In Gaza, Says Hamas Chief Was Targeted
Israel carried out fresh Gaza strikes while targeting a Hamas leader.
Israel said on Friday that it carried out an air strike in Gaza targeting Izz al-Din al-Haddad, whom it described as the chief of Hamas’ armed wing in the Gaza Strip and a key architect of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. The strike marked one of the most significant Israeli operations against Hamas leadership in recent months amid continuing conflict in the Palestinian territory.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Haddad was responsible for the killing, abduction, and attacks carried out against Israeli civilians and soldiers during the Hamas-led assault that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Israeli authorities did not immediately confirm whether the operation had succeeded in killing him.
Hamas did not issue an immediate response regarding Haddad’s fate following the strike. Haddad became the senior military commander of Hamas in Gaza after the killing of commander Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025. Israeli officials have repeatedly identified senior Hamas commanders as primary targets in their campaign against the militant group’s leadership structure.
Also Read: PM Modi Reaches Netherlands To Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation And Trade Relations
According to medics in Gaza, at least three people were killed and around 20 others injured in separate air strikes targeting an apartment building and a vehicle. The identities of those killed were not immediately confirmed, and it remained unclear whether Haddad was among the casualties reported after the attack.
The strike comes at a sensitive moment as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled despite international mediation efforts. Talks linked to a US-backed proposal aimed at securing a ceasefire and outlining governance arrangements for post-war Gaza have yet to produce a breakthrough, with both sides continuing to disagree on key conditions.
The conflict in Gaza, which began after the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, has continued for nearly two years, resulting in widespread destruction across the enclave and significant casualties on both sides. Israel has intensified efforts to target Hamas’ senior leadership during the course of the war, arguing that dismantling the group’s command structure remains central to its military objectives.
Also Read: Chandrababu Naidu Says Andhra Pradesh Will Grow In Gold Production Sector
