The Israeli military announced Saturday that it killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades [1].
The death of the leader of Hamas' military wing represents a significant escalation in the targeted campaign against the group's top command structure. Such strikes aim to degrade the operational capabilities of the militant wing during the ongoing conflict.
According to the Israeli military, the operation took place during an airstrike on Gaza City [1]. The strike occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026 [1]. A spokesperson for the Israeli army said the military carried out the assassination of the commander [1].
Confirmation of the death also came from within Hamas. A source in the movement said to Al Jazeera that the commander died during the Israeli raid on Gaza City on Friday evening [2].
This operation is part of a broader Israeli military effort to target Hamas leadership following an increase in conflict intensity [1]. The military has focused on neutralizing high-value targets to disrupt the chain of command within the Qassam Brigades, the primary armed wing of the organization [1].
Reports from both the Israeli military and Hamas sources align on the timing and location of the event [1], [2]. The strike targeted the urban center of Gaza City, where al-Haddad was reportedly located at the time of the attack [2].
“The Israeli military announced Saturday that it killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad”
The elimination of the Qassam Brigades commander suggests a high level of intelligence penetration into Hamas' military leadership. By removing the top commander of its armed wing, Israel seeks to create a leadership vacuum that could hinder the group's ability to coordinate complex attacks or maintain disciplined control over its fighters in Gaza City.
