Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions

The Israeli military announced that it has killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saed in a targeted airstrike on a vehicle in Gaza City, marking the most high-profile assassination of a Hamas leader since a ceasefire agreement came into effect in October. Saed was described by Israeli officials as one of the key architects behind the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and triggered the ongoing Gaza war.

According to the Israeli army, the strike took place on Saturday and was carried out in response to a Hamas attack earlier the same day in which an explosive device wounded two Israeli soldiers. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation was intended to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities during the ceasefire period.

Gaza health authorities reported that the airstrike killed five people and injured at least 25 others. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or medical officials that Raed Saed was among those killed. Hamas later condemned the attack, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement, but did not confirm Saed’s fate or issue direct threats of retaliation.

An Israeli military official said Saed was a high-ranking Hamas figure who played a central role in developing and expanding the group’s weapons production network. The official accused him of attempting to reestablish Hamas’ military infrastructure in recent months, which Israel considers a direct breach of the ceasefire terms. Hamas-linked sources have previously identified Saed as the former head of Hamas’ Gaza City battalion and the deputy commander of its armed wing, second only to Izz eldeen Al-Hadad.

The ceasefire, which began on October 10, allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to devastated areas of Gaza City, while Israel withdrew troops from some urban positions and increased humanitarian aid access. Despite this, violence has continued. Palestinian health officials say at least 386 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce began, while Israel reports the deaths of three soldiers and ongoing operations against Hamas fighters.

The incident underscores the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire and the continued risk of escalation between Israel and Hamas.