Sat Dec 13 15:16:49 UTC 2025: News Article:

Israeli Military Claims Killing Senior Hamas Commander in Gaza Strike

Gaza City – The Israeli military announced it killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad in a strike in Gaza City on Saturday. The attack, which Gaza health authorities say resulted in five deaths and at least 25 injuries, targeted what the Israeli military claims was a Hamas operative working to rebuild the group’s capabilities. Hamas has not confirmed Saad’s death, but stated a civilian vehicle was struck outside Gaza City, calling it a violation of the current ceasefire.

According to the Israeli military, Saad was instrumental in planning the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. A defense official told Reuters that Saad was the head of Hamas’ weapons manufacturing and other sources described him as second-in-command of Hamas’s armed wing after Izz al-Din al-Haddad.

Wafa news agency reported a drone strike on a vehicle at the Nabulsi junction in Gaza City, causing casualties. It is unclear if this attack is the same one in which Saad was allegedly killed.

If confirmed, Saad’s death would be the highest-profile assassination of a senior Hamas figure since the ceasefire in October.

Since the start of the ceasefire, authorities in Gaza report almost 800 Israeli attacks resulting in at least 386 deaths. Israel also allegedly continues to block the majority of aid trucks from entering the region. The United Nations General Assembly recently passed a resolution demanding Israel open unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and comply with international law.

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