- Israel kills al-Haddad, chief of Hamas’ armed wing.
- Al-Haddad was the mastermind behind the October 7 Israeli attack.
- Haddad was also involved in the capture of hostages, Israel said.
- Hamas confirms death in Israeli strike in Gaza.
A major development has come to light on Saturday (May 16, 2026) in the long-running war between Israel and Hamas. Both the Israeli army and Hamas have confirmed that the chief of Hamas’s armed wing, Ezzeddine al-Haddad, has been killed in Israeli strikes. Haddad is said to be the main conspirator of the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In fact, since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Israeli army and intelligence agencies have been targeting senior political leaders and commanders of Hamas in Gaza and the entire region. Azzedine al-Haddad was killed in attacks carried out under this plan.
On Haddad’s death idf And what did Hamas say??
The Israeli military (IDF) said on Friday (May 15, 2026) that it had carried out an airstrike targeting Haddad in Gaza and confirmed his death on Saturday (May 16, 2026). The Israeli military said, ‘The IDF and ISA announce that terrorist Azzedine al-Haddad was killed in a precision strike yesterday in the Gaza City area.’
🔴ELIMINATED: Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Head of Hamas’ military wing and one of the last senior commanders involved in the planning of the October 7 massacre.
Following the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar, Haddad assumed his role and worked to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities and planned… pic.twitter.com/6TW7Wewt7m
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2026
Meanwhile, quoting two Hamas officials, AFP reported that Haddad died in an Israeli attack. “Senior commander Azzedine al-Haddad was killed in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment and a civilian vehicle in Gaza City,” a senior Hamas official said. While a member of the armed wing of Hamas also separately confirmed Haddad’s death. According to another Hamas source, Haddad was killed along with his wife and a daughter.
Haddad was involved in keeping Israeli hostages in captivity- idf
The Israeli military said Haddad was one of the last senior commanders of Hamas’ military wing, who led the planning and orchestration of the October 7 attack. He was also involved in the capture of Israeli hostages during the war. The statement said Haddad operated Hamas’s hostage-taking system and surrounded himself with hostages to prevent his own assassination.
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