Summary
On May 15, 2026, Israeli forces conducted a targeted airstrike in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander-in-chief of Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The operation, coordinated by the Israeli Air Force and intelligence agencies, involved a dual-phase strike on the Al-Mu'taz apartment building and a fleeing vehicle. According to Gaza health authorities, at least seven people—including al-Haddad, his wife, and daughter—were killed, and more than fifty others were wounded. Israeli officials described the operation as a decisive blow against Hamas’s leadership, citing al-Haddad’s central role in the October 7, 2023 attacks. Hamas condemned the assassination, vowing continued resistance and denouncing the strike as a violation of international norms. Al-Haddad, known for his operational secrecy and as a principal architect of Hamas’s military strategy, had survived multiple previous assassination attempts and was considered a pivotal figure in the group’s command structure.
Detailed Report
1. The Strike: How Israel Tracked and Killed Al-Haddad
The Israeli operation that killed al-Haddad took place on May 15, 2026, in the Rimal neighborhood of central Gaza City, targeting the Al-Mu'taz apartment building. Intelligence coordination between Shin Bet and the Military Intelligence Directorate enabled Israeli forces to track al-Haddad for approximately ten days prior to the strike. Once his presence was confirmed with what Israeli security officials described as a “high-probability operational opportunity,” the mission was authorized. The Israeli Air Force executed the strike using three fighter jets, which launched thirteen precision-guided munitions at the Al-Mu'taz building. According to eyewitness accounts reported by the BBC, missiles were fired simultaneously from two separate directions, igniting a large fire in the building. In the second phase of the operation, armed Hamas members in civilian clothing evacuated a severely wounded individual believed to be al-Haddad through a side entrance and placed him in a car. The vehicle was subsequently struck approximately 1.5 kilometers from the apartment block, resulting in additional fatalities. Following the operation, the IDF Southern Command was placed on heightened alert in anticipation of potential retaliation.
2. Casualties and Aftermath on the Ground
The Gaza Health Ministry and local medical sources reported that at least seven people were killed in the strikes, including al-Haddad, his wife, and his daughter. Three Palestinians died in the vehicle strike and four in the apartment building. Among the dead were three women and a child, as confirmed by the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, in statements to CNN. More than fifty individuals were wounded, with nearly thirty transported to Al-Saraya Field Hospital for emergency treatment. The bodies of al-Haddad and his family were carried through Gaza City in a large funeral procession, with burial at Al-Aqsa Martyrs mosque the following day.
3. Official Israeli Statements
Israeli officials swiftly confirmed responsibility for the operation and emphasized its significance. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “Haddad was responsible for the murder, kidnapping and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.” They further described him as “one of the architects of the October 7 massacre,” and stated, “Haddad had refused to implement the agreement led by US President Trump to disarm Hamas and demilitarise the Gaza Strip.” The statement concluded, “We will continue to act forcefully and decisively against anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre. Sooner or later, Israel will catch up with you.” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir added, “In every conversation I held with the hostages who returned, the name of the arch-terrorist Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, one of the chief perpetrators of the October 7 massacre and the head of Hamas' military wing, came up again and again.” He continued, “Today, we succeeded in eliminating him. The IDF will continue to pursue our enemies, strike them, and hold accountable everyone who took part in the October 7 massacre.” Zamir also emphasized, “We will not relent until we reach them all – this is our duty to all those who returned and to all citizens of the State of Israel.”
4. Hamas Response
Hamas promptly confirmed al-Haddad’s death and condemned the operation. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated, “We mourn the death of the commander-in-chief of the Qassam Brigades, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad (Abu Suhaib), who was assassinated by Israel yesterday in an airstrike on Gaza.” Qassem further described al-Haddad as standing “among the towering figures of the Palestinian revolution, having sacrificed greatly for the freedom of Jerusalem and for its prisoners,” and asserted, “Although the loss is significant, the path of resistance will continue until the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque.” In an official statement, Hamas denounced the assassination as a “treacherous and cowardly” act, accused Israel of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement, and charged that the strike reflected the “criminal and fascist nature” of Israel and its disregard for international laws and conventions, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in their own statement, declared, “This criminal enemy is delusional if it thinks that the departure of great leaders will stop our march.” They added, “Leaders will succeed the leader, and the march of our people will continue until the liberation of the land and the people.”
5. Izz al-Din al-Haddad Profile: Four Decades in Hamas's Military Wing
Izz al-Din al-Haddad, also known as Abu Suhaib, was born in Gaza City in 1970 and joined Hamas at its founding in 1987. Over nearly four decades, he advanced through the ranks of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, serving as a platoon and battalion commander before leading the Gaza City Brigade, where he oversaw thousands of fighters and support personnel. Al-Haddad played a foundational role in establishing Hamas’s internal security apparatus, al-Majd, and later joined the group’s Military Council. Following the assassination of Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025, he became commander-in-chief of the Qassam Brigades and the de facto military leader of Hamas in Gaza. Known as the “Ghost of al-Qassam” for his extreme operational secrecy, al-Haddad reportedly survived at least six Israeli assassination attempts, including strikes in 2009, 2012, 2021, and three separate attempts during the 2023–2026 war. He was widely regarded as a principal architect of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and managed hostage operations throughout the conflict. According to multiple reports, al-Haddad frequently changed his appearance and location, sometimes positioning himself near hostages to deter Israeli strikes, and held veto power over key decisions, including ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
Conclusion
The killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza City has removed a key figure in Hamas’s military hierarchy. Widely viewed by Israeli officials as one of the last remaining architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks, al-Haddad’s elimination marks the latest in a series of high-value strikes against Hamas’s top military commanders.