English
English
English
Israel claims it has killed a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, but Hamas stops short of confirming it, calling the strike a ceasefire violation. With casualties rising and tensions simmering, questions linger over what really happened.
Hamas commander killed in Gaza
Jerusalem: Israel on Saturday announced that it had killed a senior Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip following an incident in which an explosive device wounded two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said the strike was part of its response to continued militant activity despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Hamas did not confirm the death of the commander, identified by Israel as Raed Saad. In a statement, the group said a civilian vehicle was hit in an Israeli strike west of Gaza City, calling the attack a violation of the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10.
Gaza Peace Plan: Hamas releases last hostages in Gaza under Israel ceasefire deal
According to Hamas, the vehicle was not engaged in combat activities at the time it was targeted.
Israeli officials described Saad as a key figure within Hamas, responsible for weapons manufacturing and formerly the head of its operations division. Israel said he played a major role in planning the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that triggered the war, and accused him of working to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities during the truce.
An Israeli strike west of Gaza City killed at least four people, according to an Associated Press journalist who witnessed the bodies arriving at Al-Shifa Hospital. Al-Awda Hospital reported that three others were wounded in the same incident.
Images from Gaza showed emergency workers carrying body bags into hospitals following the strike, underscoring the continued volatility on the ground.
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the ceasefire. Palestinian health officials say at least 386 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire since the truce began. Israel maintains that its actions are retaliatory, targeting militants who attack Israeli forces or approach restricted areas near the so-called “Yellow Line” separating Israeli-controlled zones from the rest of Gaza.
Gaza Peace Summit: ‘No more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity,’ confirms IDF
Israel has demanded the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, calling it a prerequisite for moving to the second phase of the ceasefire. That phase envisions an end to Hamas’ rule in Gaza and the reconstruction of the territory under international supervision, with the region demilitarized.
The October 2023 Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 70,650 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which says nearly half the dead are women and children.
Large swathes of Gaza remain in ruins, most of its population displaced, and humanitarian aid continues to fall short of agreed ceasefire levels.
