Israel Says Senior Hamas Weapons Chief Killed in Gaza Strike, as Focus Shifts to Post-War Political Plan
Israel has announced the killing of one of Hamas’s most senior military commanders in a targeted strike inside Gaza, a development that underscores the fragile...
Israel has announced the killing of one of Hamas’s most senior military commanders in a targeted strike inside Gaza, a development that underscores the fragile security situation even as diplomatic attention turns to the next phase of a US-backed plan for the territory’s future.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the internal security agency Shin Bet said they had carried out an airstrike on a vehicle in Gaza City, killing Raed Saad, identified as the head of weapons production for Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.
Who Was Raed Saad?
According to Israeli authorities, Saad was among the most influential commanders within the Qassam Brigades and had overseen multiple Hamas brigades during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli communities east of Gaza City.
The IDF and Shin Bet said Saad was responsible for the development of explosive devices that had killed numerous Israeli soldiers during fighting in Gaza. Israeli intelligence sources have long described him as one of the group’s most elusive and strategically important figures.
Saad was also believed to be a member of a new five-person Hamas military leadership council, formed after a ceasefire took hold in October, Israeli officials said.
Casualties and Conflicting Accounts
Hamas-run Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the BBC that four people were killed in the strike and that several bystanders were injured. A local Hamas official in Gaza separately said Saad’s aide and another lower-ranking operative, identified as Abu Imad al-Laban, were also killed.
Independent verification of these claims is not possible, as international media outlets, including the BBC, are restricted by Israel from reporting freely inside Gaza.
A Long-Standing Target
Israeli officials say Saad had been the subject of repeated assassination attempts over more than two decades. One of the most prominent efforts occurred in March 2024, when Israeli special forces reportedly launched a surprise operation in Gaza City aimed at capturing or killing him. Sources at the time said Saad narrowly escaped the targeted compound moments before Israeli troops arrived.
Saturday’s strike took place on the Palestinian-controlled side of the so-called Yellow Line, a de facto division of Gaza established under a US-led ceasefire that came into effect on October 10. Israeli forces control territory east of the line, which accounts for slightly more than half of the Gaza Strip.
Broader Context: War, Ceasefire, and Hostages
The killing comes amid the implementation of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point regional plan, which required the return of all hostages taken during the Hamas-led October 7 attack on southern Israel.
That assault left around 1,200 people dead, according to Israeli authorities, and more than 250 people abducted. Israel says all hostages have now been returned except for the remains of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer believed to have been killed while fighting Hamas gunmen at Kibbutz Alumim.
Since the outbreak of the war, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military action. Israel disputes some casualty figures but acknowledges widespread destruction.
Diplomatic Focus Shifts to Gaza’s Future
With the first phase of the US plan largely complete, attention is now turning to its more contentious next stage, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas as part of what Washington describes as the “de-radicalisation and redevelopment” of Gaza.
The proposal envisions Gaza being governed by a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee, overseen by a US-chaired “Board of Peace”, with security provided by an International Stabilisation Force, the composition of which has yet to be defined.
Under the plan, a reformed Palestinian Authority would eventually assume control of Gaza, followed by a full Israeli military withdrawal. Supporters say this could open a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Political Resistance and What Comes Next
Many elements of the proposal remain deeply controversial in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected international calls for the creation of a Palestinian state, creating uncertainty over whether the plan can be fully implemented.
President Trump is scheduled to meet Netanyahu in Washington on December 29, where officials say the future of Gaza—and the viability of the proposed transition—will be a central topic of discussion.
Why This Matters
The killing of Raed Saad highlights Israel’s continued focus on dismantling Hamas’s military leadership, even during a fragile ceasefire. At the same time, it raises questions about whether targeted strikes could undermine diplomatic efforts to stabilise Gaza and move toward a post-war political settlement.
For regional and international observers, the episode underscores the tension between ongoing military objectives and the push for a long-term framework to end the conflict.