In brief
Israeli air strikes in Gaza City resulted in the death of Hamas commander Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, who was implicated in significant violence against Israeli civilians. Israeli officials claim this action is part of ongoing military operations despite a ceasefire, while Hamas accuses Israel of aggression. This incident highlights the tenuous situation in the region and the stalled peace negotiations.
A Hamas official has confirmed to the BBC that Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, commander of the group's armed wing, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Haddad was 'responsible for the murder, kidnapping, and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers'. They described him as 'one of the architects of the October 7 massacre'. The strike is the latest launched by Israel on Gaza despite a ceasefire with Hamas. Eyewitnesses reported that a residential building known as Al-Mu'taz was struck by three missiles launched from two different directions, leading to a significant fire. The rescue teams faced challenges in evacuating the injured. A second air strike targeted a fleeing car, reportedly carrying Haddad after he was seriously injured in the initial attack, resulting in three more casualties. Sources indicated that armed members of Hamas, in civilian clothes, evacuated a severely wounded person from the building. Israeli officials have maintained their stance on targeting Hamas members, amid allegations from Hamas of Israel's violations of ceasefire terms and attacks on civilians. While the ceasefire, established on October 10, brought temporary respite, strikes have continued, raising concerns over an escalation in violence.This incident comes in the wake of a two-year-long conflict initiated by a major Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, leading to catastrophic loss of life and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
