Israel kills Hamas leader Haddad in Gaza

On Friday evening, May 15, 2026, the Israeli military carried out a precision strike on the apartment in central Gaza where Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the top commander of Hamas' military wing since the death of Mohammed Sinwar, was staying. His wife and 19-year-old daughter were also killed. The incident was the group's most high-profile loss since the October 2025 ceasefire.

Haddad, known in militant circles as "The Ghost," evaded prosecution for decades. Born in 1970 in Gaza, he rose from a rank-and-file fighter during the first intifada to head of Hamas's entire military structure in the territory. Israeli sources say he coordinated the planning and logistics of the October 7, 2023, attack. Now, almost three years after the events, his death has once again cast doubt on the sustainability of the current truce.

Who is the "Ghost" and why was he considered invulnerable?

Izz al-Din al-Haddad joined Hamas in the late 1980s. According to the Israeli army, he participated in the creation of the first Qassam units and quickly showed a talent for conspiracy. Over three decades of service, he survived at least seven assassination attempts. Each time he disappeared for months, changing his appearance and whereabouts. In 2024, after the death of Yahya Sinwar, Haddad became the de facto commander-in-chief of combat operations in Gaza.

Palestinian sources describe him as an ascetic man who rarely appeared in public. Even within his own circle, he communicated through intermediaries. That is why Israeli intelligence spent more than eight months trying to establish the exact location of the apartment in the Al-Rimal district where he was hiding with his family.

How the attack happened and what is known about the victims

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the strike took place at around 22:40 p.m. local time on May 15. A precision-guided missile was used, which hit the third floor of the apartment building directly. Local medics confirmed the death of three people: Haddad himself, his wife and daughter. Two other residents of the building were injured.

Hamas called the dead "martyrs" in an official statement and accused Israel of trying to sabotage the talks. On Saturday, May 16, a joint funeral ceremony was held at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in central Gaza. Thousands of people came to pay their last respects to the commander, despite the threat of further strikes.

Truce under attack: casualty figures after October 2025

More than 850 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement came into effect in October 2025. The Israeli side reports four dead soldiers. Hamas, as before, does not disclose the losses among its fighters. According to independent observers, most of the dead civilians are women and children who were in the zone of strikes on objects that Israel considers military.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister stressed in a joint statement that Haddad “bears personal responsibility for the murders and abductions of thousands of Israelis.” They also recalled that he was the successor to Mohammed Sinwar after his death in May 2025.

The reaction of the international community and the prospects for negotiations

The United States, which is the guarantor of the current ceasefire, has urged the parties to "refrain from steps that could disrupt the dialogue." Washington believes that Haddad's death could either speed up or slow down negotiations on the post-war settlement of Gaza. President Donald Trump's plan, which envisages the gradual disarmament of the groups and the restoration of civilian administration, still remains on paper.

Egypt and Qatar, which traditionally act as mediators, have already held urgent consultations. According to diplomatic sources in Cairo, the next round of indirect talks is scheduled for the end of May. At the same time, Israel has declared its readiness to intensify strikes if Hamas does not stop trying to rebuild its military infrastructure.

What's next: scenarios

Analysts believe that Hamas will soon announce a new military leader. Several commanders of the southern brigade, whose names remain unknown to the general public, are among the possible candidates. At the same time, the Israeli army warns that any attempt to resume rocket attacks will be stopped immediately.

For the civilian population of Gaza, the new wave of tension means a continuation of the humanitarian crisis. Most residential areas have not yet been rebuilt, and the medical system is working at its limits. International organizations are recording an increase in cases of malnutrition among children.

Thus, the death of Izz ad-Din al-Haddad not only became another page in the chronicle of the conflict, but also raised new questions for all participants in the process: will it be possible to preserve the fragile truce or will the region again find itself on the verge of a large-scale escalation.