Israel Kills Senior Hamas Commander in Gaza Strike

The Israeli military and security agency Shin Bet announced that they had killed Raed Saad, a senior Hamas commander, in a strike on a vehicle inside Gaza on Saturday. Saad was the head of weapons production for Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and was considered one of the most prominent Qassam commanders. The strike also killed three other people, including Saad's aide, and injured multiple passers-by. The Israeli military stated that Saad was responsible for the deaths of many soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip due to explosive devices. The strike occurred on the Palestinian-controlled side of the Yellow Line, which has divided Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10. The incident is part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the diplomatic focus shifting to the next stage of US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and the redevelopment of Gaza.

The Israeli military confirmed it killed a top Hamas commander, Raed Saad, in Gaza, who was described as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the ongoing conflict. Hamas confirmed Saad's death and named a new commander. The strike was deemed a 'blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement' by Hamas, while Israel claimed it was permitted under the deal to strike targets engaged in terrorism. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza, with at least 386 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire took hold.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that it had killed Ra'ad Sa'ad, a senior Hamas official and one of the masterminds behind the October 7, 2023, attacks. Sa'ad was the head of the Weapons Production Headquarters in Hamas' military wing and had been working to reestablish the group's capabilities and weapons manufacturing in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The IDF stated that Sa'ad's death significantly degrades Hamas' ability to reestablish its capabilities and that he was responsible for the deaths of many Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza by explosives manufactured by the Weapons Production Headquarters. Sa'ad had held several senior positions within Hamas' military leadership and was considered one of the highest-ranking Hamas members remaining in Gaza.

The Israeli military has confirmed that a senior Hamas commander, Raed Saad, who was involved in the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, was killed in a strike on Gaza City. The strike was in response to an attack by Hamas that injured two Israeli soldiers. The killing of Saad is the highest-profile elimination of a senior Hamas figure since the ceasefire in October. Gaza health authorities reported that five people were killed and at least 25 others were wounded in the attack. Hamas condemned the strike as a violation of the ceasefire agreement but did not threaten retaliation. The incident has strained the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.