On Saturday, Israel announced that it had killed a prominent Hamas commander, Raed Saad, in Gaza following the detonation of an explosive device that resulted in injuries to two Israeli soldiers in the southern region of the territory. The Israeli military described Saad as a key figure in the militant organization, claiming he was instrumental in the planning of the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked ongoing hostilities. They accused him of being involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas, which was said to be a violation of a ceasefire agreement that had come into effect on October 10.
In response to the Israeli actions, Hamas did not confirm Saad's death but claimed that an Israeli airstrike had targeted a civilian vehicle near Gaza City. They asserted that this act constituted a violation of the ceasefire terms. Reports indicated that the Israeli strike, which took place west of Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of four individuals, as observed by an Associated Press journalist at Shifa Hospital. Additionally, three other people were reported injured at Al-Awda hospital.
Amid ongoing conflict, both Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations regarding violations of the ceasefire. Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli airstrikes and military actions have been credited with the deaths of at least 386 Palestinians, according to figures from Palestinian health officials. The Israeli government has defended these airstrikes as retaliatory measures against militant attacks on their soldiers, emphasizing that their troops have also engaged with Palestinians who approached the "Yellow Line," which demarcates the Israeli-controlled area from other parts of Gaza.
The Israeli government has made it a priority to demand the return of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage from the region, asserting that this return is a condition for advancing to a more complex phase of the ceasefire. This phase aims to envision an end to Hamas's governance and plans for the reconstruction of a demilitarized Gaza, which would be subject to international supervision.
The conflict that erupted following the initial Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the taking of 251 hostages. The majority of these hostages, or their remains, have been returned through subsequent ceasefires or other agreements.
As part of an ongoing military campaign, Israeli operations in Gaza have reportedly resulted in over 70,650 Palestinian deaths, with approximately half of those casualties being women and children. These figures come from the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between militants and civilians. The ministry operates under the control of the Hamas-led government and is recognized by the international community for maintaining reliable records regarding casualties.
In light of the extensive destruction in Gaza, a significant portion of the population, estimated at over 2 million, has been displaced. Humanitarian assistance entering Gaza remains below the specified levels established by the ceasefire terms. Furthermore, individuals who have lost limbs due to the conflict are facing severe shortages of prosthetic limbs and lengthy delays for medical evacuations.
