JERUSALEM (AP) — On Sunday, Hamas confirmed the death of Raed Saad, a prominent commander of its military manufacturing unit, following an Israeli airstrike outside Gaza City. This development comes a day after Israel announced that it had conducted the strike, claiming Saad was an architect of the October 7, 2023 attack that ignited the current conflict in Gaza.
Israel accused Saad of violating a ceasefire that had been in place for two months by engaging in efforts to rebuild Hamas. The Israeli military reported that the operation was a response to an explosive device that detonated, injuring two Israeli soldiers in the southern region of Gaza. Hamas, in its initial report, maintained that the vehicle struck by Israel was a civilian one.
In addition to confirming Saad's death, Hamas announced the appointment of a new commander but did not provide any further details regarding this replacement. The airstrike on Saturday resulted in the deaths of four individuals, as reported by an Associated Press journalist who witnessed their arrival at Shifa Hospital. Al-Awda Hospital reported another three injuries from the attack.
The ongoing conflict has seen both sides accuse one another of violating the ceasefire. Since it began, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 391 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli government has asserted that these strikes are retaliatory measures in response to militant attacks targeting Israeli soldiers. Additionally, Israeli forces have opened fire on Palestinians approaching the “Yellow Line,” which marks the boundary between the Israeli-controlled majority of Gaza and the rest of the territory.
Israel has placed significant pressure on Palestinian militants to return the remains of the final hostage, Ran Gvili, from Gaza. The government has stated that this return is a precondition for progressing to the second, more intricate phase of the ceasefire negotiations. This phase aims to outline a vision for ending Hamas’ rule and facilitating the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision.
The initial Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of 251 hostages. Most hostages or their remains have been returned over the course of ceasefires or other negotiated agreements.
According to reports from the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli operations in the region have resulted in over 70,660 Palestinian deaths in a two-year campaign, with roughly half of the casualties identified as women and children. It is important to note that the Health Ministry does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its reported figures. This ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals who maintain meticulous records, which are generally accepted as reliable by the international community.
___
For more extensive coverage on the Israel-Hamas conflict, visit AP's dedicated section.
