On Saturday, Israel announced the targeted killing of Raed Saad, a senior commander of Hamas, in Gaza. This action follows an incident wherein two Israeli soldiers were wounded by an explosive device in southern Gaza. While the Israeli military described Saad as one of the architects behind the October 7, 2023, attack that reignited the conflict, Hamas has not confirmed his death and condemned the attack as a breach of the ceasefire that had been established on October 10.
Saad was known for his role in manufacturing weapons for Hamas and previously led the group’s operations division. Israel's statement emphasized that he was actively involved in efforts to rebuild the organization while infringing upon the terms of the ceasefire. The strike, executed west of Gaza City, reportedly resulted in four fatalities, as confirmed by an Associated Press journalist at Shifa Hospital. Al-Awda Hospital reported an additional three individuals injured.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce. Since the ceasefire began, Israeli airstrikes and armed confrontations in Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 386 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli government claims these strikes were in retaliation for previous attacks against its soldiers and that troops have engaged with Palestinians approaching the “Yellow Line,” a demarcation within Gaza.
Israel continues to press for the return of Ran Gvili, the last hostage whose remains are believed to be in Gaza, as a precondition for advancing to what has been described as the second, more complex phase of the ceasefire. This phase aims to address the future of Gaza following Hamas' rule, proposing the establishment of a demilitarized territory under international supervision and reconstruction efforts.
The initial attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and captured 251 hostages. Most of these hostages or their remains have since been recovered through various ceasefires and negotiations. Over the duration of Israel's campaign in Gaza, more than 70,650 Palestinians have died, with about half being women and children. The Health Ministry in Gaza, which functions under Hamas governance, claims these statistics without distinction between militants and non-combatants, and their records are generally regarded as credible by the international community.
With a population exceeding 2 million, much of Gaza has been left in ruins, and a significant portion of its residents have been displaced. Humanitarian aid to the region has not met the levels specified by the ceasefire terms. Reports indicate that Palestinians who lost limbs during the conflict face shortages of prosthetic limbs and are experiencing lengthy delays in medical evacuations.
