Hamas commander who helped plan Oct. 7 attacks has been killed, Israel says

A long-serving Hamas commander who replaced Mohammed Sinwar and helped plan the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel was killed on Friday, Israeli officials said Saturday. 

Izz al-Din al-Haddad was the head of Hamas’ military wing, the Israel Defense Forces said in a news release. The IDF said he “was involved in the holding of many Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity” amid the war in Gaza and “surrounded himself with hostages to prevent his elimination.” 

Haddad joined Hamas during its early establishment, according to the IDF. He maintained close ties with Hamas leadership before his death, and recently operated “to rehabilitate Hamas’ military wing capabilities,” the Israeli army said. 

“This is an important closing of a circle. In all the conversations I had with the abductees who returned, the name of the master murderer, Iz al-Din Haddad … came up time and time again,” IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement. 

The Israeli army said Haddad was killed in a “precise strike” in Gaza City. Haddad’s family also confirmed his death to The Associated Press. His funeral was held in Gaza City on Saturday. 

The AP reported two Israeli strikes in Gaza City on Friday. One targeted a building and another a vehicle, the AP reported. Health officials in the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Saraya Field Hospital and Shifa hospital told the AP seven people were killed and dozens more were wounded in the strikes.