The Israeli army and the Shin Bet, the internal intelligence agency, announced on Saturday, May 16, the death of the Hamas military branch leader, Ezzedine Al-Haddad, during strikes on the Gaza Strip the day before. The news was later confirmed by the Palestinian Islamist movement. The Washington Post described Al-Haddad as a “relatively unknown figure before the start of the war in Gaza.” The Israeli Defense Forces statement announcing his elimination, however, presents him as “the last leader of Hamas involved in planning the terrorist attacks of October 7 still alive in Gaza.”
According to witnesses interviewed by the BBC, the strikes targeted the residential building Al-Mu’taz in the Al-Ramal district in the city of Gaza, followed by a civilian vehicle about a kilometer away. In total, at least seven people were reported to have died and 45 others were injured, some in critical condition.
Eyewitness accounts from Al-Jazeera’s correspondent in the Palestinian enclave, Ibrahim Al Khalili, suggest that at least four missiles were fired. The journalist added that this western area of Gaza City is currently “overcrowded” with people seeking refuge “to escape the countless Israeli military operations [in the east of the city].”
“Despite [President Donald] Trump’s peace plan, the fighting continues in the enclave,” noted the Qatari news site. “Since the ‘ceasefire’ came into effect [on October 10, 2025], nearly 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Many residents had hoped the ceasefire would bring some calm, but it only brings tragedies.”
Target of several assassination attempts
According to images from AFP, the funeral of Ezzedine Al-Haddad took place on Saturday morning in Gaza. His coffin, wrapped in a Hamas flag, was surrounded by a crowd.
The Israeli daily Ha’Aretz provides some details about his background. Born in 1970 and “originating from the al-Touffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, he joined Hamas at the age of 17. He was initially employed by the ‘Majd’ internal police [of the organization], responsible for apprehending Palestinians who collaborated with Israel. He continued to climb the ranks and was propelled to the head of one of the five brigades of Hamas in Gaza. He was also a member of the Military Council, considered one of the main commanders overseeing the group’s military activities in the Gaza Strip.”
The article continues by stating that he survived several assassination attempts, notably in 2009, 2012, and 2021. Several others had targeted him since the start of the war, resulting in the deaths of two of his sons. He personally oversaw the detention of Israeli hostages during the conflict, with some of them claiming to have seen him in person.
Prior to his death, Israel claimed the lives of several top Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinouar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammed Deif, the commander-in-chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau. As he is once again decapitated, sources linked to the Palestinian movement, cited by Ha’Aretz, explain that his successor will be chosen from the active commanders on the ground.
