Palestinians in the Gaza Strip held a funeral procession for Az al-Din al-Haddad after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike [1].
The death of al-Haddad represents a significant loss for the military wing of Hamas. As a high-ranking leader, his removal targets the operational command structure of the Qassam Brigades during the ongoing conflict.
Al-Haddad served as the commander of the Qassam Brigades [1]. Other reports describe his role as a military spokesperson or an operations commander [2]. This discrepancy in his title reflects the clandestine nature of the group's leadership hierarchy, a structure designed to maintain operational security.
Israeli forces targeted al-Haddad in an airstrike [1]. The operation followed his involvement in various Hamas activities, most notably the attacks launched on Oct. 7, 2023 [1]. According to reporting, al-Haddad was the last remaining commander from that specific operation [2].
The funeral in Gaza served as both a burial and a public demonstration of mourning. Witnesses said the event was a gathering of supporters and military affiliates. The Israeli government had previously placed a large bounty on al-Haddad, referring to him as a high-priority target [2].
His death marks the conclusion of a pursuit that spanned several years. By eliminating the final commander associated with the initial Oct. 7 breach, Israel aims to dismantle the remaining legacy leadership of that campaign [2].
“Az al-Din al-Haddad was the last remaining commander from the Oct. 7, 2023, operation.”
The elimination of Az al-Din al-Haddad signifies the completion of an Israeli objective to neutralize the primary architects of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. By removing the final surviving commander from that specific operational group, Israel reduces the institutional memory and tactical leadership of the Qassam Brigades, potentially disrupting their ability to coordinate similar large-scale incursions.
