IDF and Shin Bet Eliminate Hamas Military Chief Izz al-Din al-Haddad

The IDF and the Shin Bet eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’ military wing, in a precise strike Friday in the Gaza City area, according to a joint announcement.

Haddad was described by Israel as one of the architects of the October 7 massacre and one of the last senior Hamas military commanders still involved in planning and directing the attack.

He took over the top military role after the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar. In recent months, the IDF said, Haddad worked to rebuild Hamas’ military wing and plan attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.

Haddad’s Role in the Hostage System

Throughout the war, Haddad was involved in the captivity of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

According to the IDF and Shin Bet, Haddad managed Hamas’ hostage captivity system and surrounded himself with hostages in an attempt to prevent Israel from targeting him.

The IDF Chief of Staff said Haddad’s name came up repeatedly in conversations with hostages who returned from captivity, calling the strike a significant operational achievement by the Southern Command, IDF intelligence, the Israeli Air Force, and the Shin Bet.

A Longtime Hamas Commander

Haddad was one of Hamas’ longest-serving military commanders. He joined the terror organization in its early years and maintained close ties with the Hamas leadership.

Over the years, he held several senior roles inside Hamas’ military structure, including commander of the Gaza City Brigade and commander of additional units.

The IDF said Haddad played a central role in Hamas’ rule in Gaza and in directing combat operations against Israeli forces during the war.

Israel Says October 7 Terrorists Remain Targets

Following the strike, the IDF Chief of Staff ordered Southern Command to remain at a high level of readiness and respond immediately to any attempt to harm Israeli troops or Israeli territory.

He said Israel will continue pursuing those responsible for the October 7 massacre and will not stop until they are held accountable.

Additional Hamas Terrorists Eliminated

The IDF also announced that two Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre were eliminated in separate strikes in the northern Gaza Strip over the past two weeks.

The terrorists were identified as Hamer Iyad Muhammad Almatouk and Khaled Muhammad Salem Joudeh. According to the military, both had recently tried to carry out attacks against IDF troops and posed an immediate threat.

In a separate strike in central Gaza earlier this week, the IDF eliminated Abd al-Rahman Mahmoud Jumaa Shaafi, a Hamas terrorist from the Bureij Battalion who had been advancing attacks against Israeli forces.

The IDF said it took steps before the strikes to reduce the risk to civilians, including aerial surveillance and the use of precise munitions.

IDF Remains Deployed Under Ceasefire Terms

The military said Southern Command forces remain deployed according to the ceasefire agreement and will continue acting against immediate threats.

The elimination of Haddad marks another major blow to Hamas’ senior command structure and sends a clear message from Israel: the terrorists behind October 7 remain hunted.