JERUSALEM (AP) – On Saturday, Israel announced the assassination of a senior Hamas commander, Raed Saad, in Gaza following an explosive device blast that injured two Israeli soldiers in the southern region of the territory. While Israel attributed the airstrike to ongoing military operations against Hamas, the militant group did not confirm Saad’s death and accused Israel of violating the ceasefire that was established on October 10, 2023.
Raed Saad was identified by Israel as a key figure in the organization’s military strategy, serving as the commander of its operations division and as the head of manufacturing arms for Hamas. The Israeli government described him as one of the masterminds behind the October 7, 2023, attack that instigated the current conflict. They claimed that Saad had been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas despite the ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli strike that targeted Saad occurred west of Gaza City and resulted in at least four fatalities, as reported by an Associated Press journalist who witnessed the arrival of the bodies at Shifa Hospital. Additionally, Al-Awda Hospital indicated that three others were wounded in the incident. Both Israel and Hamas have engaged in mutual accusations over breaches of the agreed-upon ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire commenced, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire in Gaza have reportedly led to the deaths of at least 386 Palestinians, according to health officials in the region. Israel has justified its military actions as responses to attacks on its troops by militants, stating that its forces have engaged fire against Palestinians who approached the "Yellow Line," the demarcation between the Israeli-controlled area of Gaza and the remaining territory.
Israel has also insisted that one of the conditions for moving forward to a subsequent phase of the ceasefire—which involves complex negotiations—includes the retrieval of the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, from Gaza. This second phase is aimed at envisioning an end to Hamas' governance and the reconstruction of a demilitarized Gaza under international oversight.
The initial assault by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, led to approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages. Most hostages and their remains have been returned during ceasefires or through other arrangements. As part of Israel's ongoing military engagement, the two-year campaign in Gaza has accounted for more than 70,650 Palestinian deaths, with a significant proportion being women and children, according to the Health Ministry operating within the Hamas administration. This ministry's statistics are widely regarded as reliable by the international community, despite not differentiating between militants and civilians in its reports.
The infrastructure in Gaza has faced substantial destruction, with over two million residents experiencing displacement. The entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains below expectations, as stipulated by the ceasefire terms. Palestinians who sustained significant injuries during the conflict are now confronting severe shortages of prosthetic limbs and extended waits for necessary medical evacuations.
