War in Gaza: Israeli authorities announce death of Hamas military branch leader

“The terrorist Ezzedine al-Haddad was eliminated” during a strike on a building in the Palestinian enclave, according to the Israeli army and intelligence service.

The Israeli army and the Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency, announced on Saturday, May 16, that they had killed the head of Hamas’ military branch, described as one of the main architects of the terrorist attacks of October 7, following a strike targeting him. The army and the intelligence agency “announce (…) that the terrorist Ezzedine al-Haddad was eliminated,” according to a statement. The Israeli Ministry of Defense had stated on Friday that this leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement was targeted, without confirming his death.

The Gaza Civil Defense, a paramedic organization under Hamas control, reported that one person was killed and around twenty others were injured after fighter jets “bombed a residential building” in the Al-Ramal neighborhood of Gaza City. Israeli television aired images of a burning building, claiming it was the location where Ezzedine al-Haddad was targeted.

Hamas’ military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, carried out the October 7 attacks on southern Israeli locations, resulting in 1,221 deaths, according to Israeli authorities. They also kidnapped 251 people, taking them hostage in Gaza. The retaliatory military campaign led by Israel since then has devastated the Gaza Strip and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, especially among children.