The Palestinian group Hamas has confirmed the killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of its armed wing in Gaza, in an Israeli attack a day earlier. Hamas condemned the “treacherous and cowardly assassination” of al-Haddad, who led the Qassam Brigades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed on Friday that Israeli forces had targeted and killed al-Haddad, calling him “one of the architects” of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Hamas stated that al-Haddad was killed along with his wife, daughter, and other Palestinian civilians on Friday evening. The Israeli strikes targeted the Remal neighborhood west of Gaza City, killing three Palestinians in a strike on a civilian vehicle and four others in a strike on a building, according to medical sources.

Three women and a baby were among the dead, sources told Al Jazeera, with dozens more wounded. Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim Al Khalili reported that the strikes caused “panic” as dozens of Palestinians fled a “massive fire” engulfing a residential building.

Hamas said al-Haddad’s killing marks the latest Israeli breach of the Gaza “ceasefire” agreement and its “ongoing aggression against innocent civilians.” The group asserted that such attacks reaffirm “the criminal and fascist nature” of the Israeli regime and its disregard for international law.

The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and its military wing also mourned al-Haddad, praising his “immense sacrifices and long struggle.” Their joint statement claimed the “cowardly assassination” would not weaken the resolve of the resistance.

Last December, the Israeli regime killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saad, al-Haddad’s deputy. Since the so-called “ceasefire” began in October, the death toll from Israeli attacks has reached 870, with 2,543 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Source: www.aljazeera.com