Hamas leader who helped plan Oct. 7 attacks has been killed, Israel says
Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in a "precise strike in the area on the City of Gaza," the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday.
Updated on: May 16, 2026 / 7:17 AM EDT / CBS News
A long-serving Hamas commander who replaced Mohammed Sinwar and helped plan the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel was killed on Friday, Israeli officials said Saturday.
Izz al-Din al-Haddad was the head of Hamas' military wing, the Israel Defense Forces said in a news release . The IDF said he "was involved in the holding of many Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity" amid the war in Gaza and "surrounded himself with hostages to prevent his elimination."
Haddad joined Hamas during its early establishment, according to the IDF . He maintained close ties with Hamas leadership before his death, and recently operated "to rehabilitate Hamas' military wing capabilities," the Israeli army said.
"This is an important closing of a circle. In all the conversations I had with the abductees who returned, the name of the master murderer, Iz al-Din Haddad ... came up time and time again," IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement.
The Israeli army said Haddad was killed in a "precise strike" in Gaza City. Haddad's family also confirmed his death to The Associated Press.