Israel kills Hamas military chief and mastermind of October 7 massacre, IDF claims

An Israeli airstrike has killed the Hamas military chief and mastermind of the October 7 attacks, the Israeli military has claimed.

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander of Hamas' military operations in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, marking the highest-ranking official from the Palestinian terrorist organisation to be killed since the US-backed ceasefire began in October.

The IDF confirmed on Saturday Haddad died in what it termed a precise strike on Gaza City.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement with his defence minister, described Haddad as an architect of the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

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Mr Netanyahu stated Haddad "was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted on thousands of Israeli civilians (and) soldiers".

Hamas subsequently confirmed Haddad, born in 1970, died alongside his wife and daughter in the attack.

The terrorist group described him as a central figure in coordinating combat operations.

A Palestinian source indicated the strike hit an apartment building in the city.

The commander's 19-year-old daughter was among the dead.

On Saturday, mourners gathered at Al Aqsa Martyrs Mosque in central Gaza for a joint funeral service honouring Haddad and his two family members.

Friday's operations by Israeli forces resulted in seven Palestinian deaths across at least two separate attacks, local medical personnel reported.

The casualties included three women and a child.

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Haddad earned the moniker "the Ghost" during his lengthy career with Hamas, having evaded numerous Israeli assassination attempts over the years, according to sources within the organisation.

The Israeli military described him as one of Hamas' most enduring commanders, having climbed through the organisation's hierarchy since its formation in the 1980s to occupy multiple senior positions.

He assumed leadership of Hamas' military operations in Gaza following Israel's killing of Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025.

His decades-long involvement with the militant group made him a prime target for Israeli intelligence services, although he managed to remain elusive until Friday's strike on the apartment building.

Since the October ceasefire came into effect, approximately 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations. However, these figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.

During the same period, militants killed four Israeli soldiers. Hamas has not released casualty numbers for its own fighters.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over United States President Donald Trump's post-war plan for the territory remain at an impasse, with both sides unable to reach an agreement after more than two years of conflict.

Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Gaza in recent weeks following the conclusion of joint bombing campaigns with the United States in Iran, refocusing military efforts on the Palestinian enclave, where officials say Hamas is consolidating its position.

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