Head of Hamas's Military Wing Killed in Israeli Strike in Gaza

The Israeli military on Saturday (16/5) confirmed that Ezzedine Al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’s military wing, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza on Friday (15/5).

“The IDF and ISA announce that yesterday, in a precise strike in the Gaza City area, Ezzedine Al-Haddad was eliminated,” the Israeli military said, referring to themselves and the Shin Bet domestic security agency, according to the AFP news agency, Saturday (16/5/2026).

Two Hamas officials also told AFP that Haddad was killed in an Israeli strike on an apartment and civilian vehicle in Gaza City on Friday (15/5).

The Israeli military said that Haddad was “one of the last senior commanders in Hamas’s military wing who directed the planning and execution of the October 7 massacre.”

“Throughout the war, Haddad was involved in the detention of many Israeli hostages held by Hamas,” the Israeli military said.

“Haddad managed Hamas’s hostage detention system and surrounded himself with hostages in an effort to prevent his assassination,” the Israeli military added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement with his defense minister on Friday that Haddad had been targeted in the Israeli strike.

Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Katz said Haddad was the architect of the October 7, 2023 attack launched by Hamas, which triggered the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Haddad, who became head of Hamas’s military in Gaza after Israel killed Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025, “was responsible for the murder, kidnapping, and danger posed to thousands of Israeli civilians (and) soldiers,” Netanyahu and Katz said.

Israel has stepped up its attacks in Gaza in recent weeks since halting joint strikes with the US in Iran.