Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza
Gaza, Dec 15: Hamas has acknowledged that one of its top military leaders, Raed Saad, was killed along with several aides in an Israeli operation, confirming Israeli claims made a day earlier. The confirmation came from Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s chief in Gaza, during a televised address aired on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV.
In his speech, al-Hayya described the killing as part of the immense toll borne by Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict, stating that tens of thousands had lost their lives, including Saad, whom he referred to as a senior commander. His remarks were reported by international media outlets.
Israel had announced on Saturday that its forces had eliminated Raed Saad, describing him as a key figure behind the October 7, 2023 attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that both he and the defence minister had personally approved the targeted killing.
Saad was regarded as a long-serving and influential figure within Hamas. According to Arab intelligence sources, he had steadily climbed the ranks to become the second-in-command of the group’s armed wing. During much of the current conflict, he was believed to be operating from within Hamas’s extensive tunnel network beneath Gaza City.
The killing threatens to further unsettle an already fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce, brokered in mid-October with the involvement of the United States and regional partners, resulted in the release of the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Despite the agreement, violence has continued. Local health authorities in Gaza report that more than 300 Palestinians, including children, have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began, while Israel has confirmed the deaths of at least three soldiers during the same period.
International mediators, including US President Donald Trump, are pushing for the next phase of the ceasefire, which would involve Hamas laying down its arms and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas, however, has firmly rejected disarmament, arguing that armed resistance is central to its identity. Netanyahu has warned that if Hamas does not disarm willingly, Israel will compel it to do so by force.