Confirmed: Hamas mourns its armed wing chief, killed in ‘Israeli’ strike

Hamas officially announced the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander-in-chief of Hamas’ military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, saying he was martyred after what it described as a long career of military activity and fight against the Israeli Occupation.

In an official statement, Hamas said Haddad joins those it described as the “great figures in the history of the contemporary Palestinian revolution,” who were martyred for the freedom of prisoners and holy sites.

The statement said the loss of Izz al-Din al-Haddad represents a major blow, while stressing that the path of resistance will continue uninterrupted, adding that its journey will ultimately reach the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"This loss is profound, but this journey continues. This long, extended convoy of pure men, which included this great leader, "Abu Sohaib," this convoy continues its march, driven by hope for God's victory.And it will complete its journey in the near future,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a video statement.

The official announcement appears to end speculation that followed the intense ‘Israeli’ airstrike targeting him west of Gaza City, marking the reported end of the pursuit of the commander whom ‘Israel’ had dubbed “the Ghost.”

‘Israel’ described him as a key architect of the events of October 7.

"The IDF and the ISA announce that yesterday, in a precise strike in the area of the City of Gaza, the terrorist Ezzedine Al-Haddad was eliminated," the ‘Israeli’ military said, referring to itself and the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

Haddad was killed along with his wife and a daughter ,a Hamas source said.

The military said Haddad was "one of the last senior commanders in Hamas's military wing who directed the planning and execution of the October 7th massacre".

“Significant achievement”

‘Israel's’ military chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir called the killing a "significant operational achievement".

"In every conversation I held with the hostages who returned, the name of the arch-terrorist Ezzedine Al-Haddad... came up again and again," Zamir said, in a separate statement.

"Today, we succeeded in eliminating him. The IDF will continue to pursue our enemies, strike them, and hold accountable everyone who took part in the October 7th massacre."

Over the course of the war, ‘Israel’ has claimed responsibility for the assassinations of several Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, widely regarded as a mastermind of October 7. .

It also killed Mohammed Deif, the longtime commander of Hamas's armed wing.