Jerusalem announced on Saturday that it had successfully killed a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, following an incident where an explosive device detonated in the territory’s south, wounding two Israeli soldiers. This strike immediately intensified the already fragile ceasefire environment, with both sides trading accusations of breaches.
The Target and Israeli Justification
The individual targeted in the strike, which occurred west of Gaza City, was identified by Israel as Raed Saad. Saad held a high-ranking position within the militant group, having served as the Hamas official in charge of manufacturing and previously leading the group’s operations division.
The Israeli statement offered a strong justification for the action:
- Saad was described as one of the architects of the devastating October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the current war.
- Israel claimed he had been actively “engaged in rebuilding the terrorist organisation”—a clear violation of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.
Hamas’s Response and Civilian Casualties
Hamas, in its official statement, did not confirm the death of Raed Saad. Instead, the militant group asserted that a “civilian vehicle” had been struck outside Gaza City and immediately labeled the incident a violation of the ceasefire.
The human cost of the strike was immediately evident:
- An Associated Press journalist at Shifa Hospital confirmed the arrival of the bodies of four people killed in the strike.
- Al-Awda hospital reported that another three people were wounded.
Mounting Toll Amid Mutual Accusations
The strike takes place against a backdrop of continuous tension, with Israel and Hamas routinely accusing each other of truce violations.
- Palestinian Officials’ Count: According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli airstrikes and shootings in Gaza have killed at least 386 Palestinians since the ceasefire took hold.
- Israeli Counter-Claim: Israel maintains that its recent strikes are conducted in retaliation for militant attacks against its soldiers. They also assert that troops have fired on Palestinians who approached the “Yellow Line,” the demarcation between the Israeli-controlled majority of Gaza and the rest of the territory.
Stalled Peace Process and Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing skirmishes complicate the transition to the next, more complex phase of the ceasefire. Israel has explicitly demanded that Palestinian militants return the remains of the final hostage, Ran Gvili, making it a condition for advancing the deal.
The second phase lays out an ambitious vision for ending Hamas’ rule and overseeing the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision.
The conflict, which began with the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages (almost all of whom have since been returned), has resulted in catastrophic casualties:
- Israel’s two-year campaign has killed more than 70,650 Palestinians, roughly half of whom are reported to be women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
- The overwhelming majority of Gaza has been destroyed, and over 2 million people have been displaced.
- The humanitarian situation is dire, with aid entry below the level set by truce terms, and Palestinians who lost limbs facing a severe shortage of prosthetic limbs and long delays in medical evacuations.