Israeli officials announced that al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza and one of the last surviving senior planners of the October 7 assault, was killed in a targeted airstrike in Gaza City. Hamas later confirmed his death, along with the deaths of members of his family who were reportedly with him during the strike.

According to Israeli military officials, the strike targeted a building in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood. Israel described the operation as a ‘precise’ strike coordinated between the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet internal security agency. 

The continued targeting of Hamas commanders by Israel is significant because it illustrates that the conflict between Israel and Hamas has not ended. Though full-scale hostilities between the two have come to a halt, limited military operations, like this one, are still ongoing. Targeting senior Hamas leaders indicates Israel believes those commanders still have substantial fighters under their command, which in turn means that Hamas has not been completely destroyed. 

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From a military perspective, Israel likely sees the strike as another major blow against Hamas leadership structure and operational capabilities. Israel’s strategy throughout the war has focused heavily on dismantling Hamas by eliminating senior commanders, destroying tunnel systems, and targeting the organization’s infrastructure. Killing al-Haddad removes one of Hamas’s most experienced battlefield commanders and disrupts command and control within the group. Israeli leaders portrayed the operation as proof that Israel can continue to reach high-value targets even deep inside Gaza.

The political importance of al-Haddad’s death is more nuanced. While most Israelis probably view the killing as justice for the October 7 attacks, Hamas has historically demonstrated an ability to replace leaders and continue operating despite major losses. Previous assassinations of Hamas commanders weakened the organization but only temporarily. Hamas likely views such losses as short-term problems because their top focus appears to be on recruiting the next generation of fighters and leaders to continue their war against Israel in the long run. 

The strike on al-Haddad could exacerbate tensions not only between Israel and Hamas, but across the wider Middle East, where regional forces, including Hezbollah and Iran, closely monitor Israeli military operations. Hamas supporters in Gaza portrayed al-Haddad as a martyr, and large funeral crowds demonstrated that the group still retains support, or at least sympathy, among parts of the Palestinian population despite the devastation of the war. 

The killing of al-Haddad can be seen as a microcosm of the entire conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel continues to demonstrate clear military superiority, as evidenced by their ability to locate and eliminate Hamas leaders at will. Yet that technological and military superiority has not brought Israel lasting peace or security.

Israel has the proven ability to kill Hamas fighters and destroy their equipment, but Israel has not yet been able to kill the idea of Hamas. As long as the idea of Hamas survives, military force alone will probably not be able to defeat it. 

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