Arabic version: مقتل قائد حماس عز الدين الحداد في غارة جوية إسرائيلية

Hamas has confirmed the killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of the armed wing of the Palestinian group in Gaza, following an Israeli attack on May 15, 2026. The group condemned the attack as a “treacherous and cowardly assassination”. According to Al Jazeera, al-Haddad was killed alongside his wife, daughter, and several other civilians during the strike in the Remal neighborhood of Gaza City.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz described al-Haddad as “one of the architects” of the October 7, 2023, attacks. The Israeli strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians in a civilian vehicle and four others in a strike on a building, with medical sources indicating that among the deceased were three women and a baby. Dozens more were injured during the attacks.

The strikes sparked panic in the area, forcing many residents to flee as a massive fire engulfed the targeted building. Hamas stated that al-Haddad’s killing marks the latest Israeli breach of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and an ongoing act of aggression against civilians.

In a joint statement, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and its military wing mourned al-Haddad, praising his sacrifices and resistance against Israel. They asserted that the “cowardly assassination” would not weaken their resolve, despite the military actions taken against them.

The recent escalation in violence has resulted in significant casualties, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting that since the ceasefire began in October last year, Israeli attacks have led to 870 deaths and over 2,543 injuries. Hospitals in Gaza have been overwhelmed, receiving numerous casualties in the wake of the recent airstrikes.