Hamas military leader Izz ad-Din al-Haddad was targeted in Israeli strikes in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Friday evening joint statement.
Senior defense sources told Walla that initial indications suggest the assassination attempt was successful. No official confirmation has been received from the IDF.
The Air Force carried out the strike after receiving intelligence from the IDF’s Southern Command and Military Intelligence Directorate on Haddad’s location, which had been identified after years of military intelligence collection.
Approval was given to the IDF by government officials about 10 days prior to the attack, according to Israeli media.
Prior to the attack, the Air Force carried out a “deception operation” approved by Brig.-Gen. Omer Tischler. The operation was intended to prevent Hamas from detecting unusual activity in the western Negev and Gazan airspace while assuring that Hamas’s military wing, as well as Haddad’s inner circle, remained on low alert.
Head of IDF Operations Maj.-Gen. Itzik Cohen instructed the military to be ready on land, at sea, and in the air following the strike.
Haddad is the highest-ranking military commander of Hamas and the last leader of the October 7 massacre remaining in the Gaza Strip. He has been a member of the terror group’s military wing since its founding in 1987.
Haddad was also former Gaza hostages Liri Albag and Emily Damari’s captor.
“Every dog gets its day, and you are a piece of a dog,” wrote Albag on an Instagram story, who was personally notified of the operation by Katz.
Damari also spoke out about the attack, saying, “It’s official, Raz al-Din al-Haddad has been eliminated! Thanks to all the security forces and those involved in the operation.”
“Shabbat Shalom to all Israel. This is a very important closure for many people. He planned October 7, murdered my friends and many other dear people, he planned my kidnapping and also held me in Hamas tunnels. With God’s help, we will reach every one of these terrorist scum,” she continued.
“Haddad was responsible for the murder, kidnapping, and harming of thousands of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” said Katz and Netanyahu’s joint statement.
“He held our hostages captive with severe cruelty, launched terrorist acts against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement led by US President Trump to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. The IDF and Shin Bet are well implementing the government’s policy of not containing threats and defeating our enemies ahead of time,” it continued.
“We will continue to act forcefully and decisively against anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre. This is a clear message to all the murderers who seek our lives: Sooner or later, Israel will catch up with you.”
Throughout the war with Gaza, Haddad moved between numerous hiding places, was heavily involved in the hostage network in the Strip, and surrounded himself with hostages in an attempt to avoid strikes from the IDF.
Under his command, Hamas murdered, starved, and abused hostages in order to protect his personal security and ensure the survival of the terror organization.
