According to Israeli media outlets, the Israeli army targeted Ezzedine al-Haddad, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, in a strike on Friday in the Palestinian enclave. He was considered one of the “architects” of the attacks on October 7.
The Israeli army claimed to have carried out attacks in the Gaza Strip against the top military official of Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, Ezzedine al-Haddad, in strikes conducted on Friday, May 15.
In a joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israël Katz, it was confirmed that Ezzedine al-Haddad was indeed “assassinated”. It was stated that the Hamas leader had “refused to implement the agreement initiated by US President Donald Trump to disarm Hamas.”
Videos shared on social media and by the Israeli television channel N12 show a thick column of smoke caused by the strike. The building was also on fire late at night, confirming an attack carried out on Friday in the Palestinian enclave.
Leader of Hamas in Gaza for nearly a year
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the armed forces conducted a strike in Gaza targeting the top terrorist Ezzedine al-Haddad, commander of the Hamas military wing and one of the main architects of the October 7 massacre,” according to a statement from the ministry released earlier in the day.
In the statement, Israel Katz stated that Ezzedine al-Haddad “was responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and soldiers,” while “holding our hostages in cruel captivity” and “launching terrorist attacks against our forces.”
“This is a clear message to all murderers seeking to harm our people: sooner or later, Israel will get to you,” he concluded.
The latter had succeeded Mohammed Sinwar at the head of the Hamas armed wing in the Gaza Strip in May 2025.
