Israel said today that its forces had killed a leading Hamas commander in Gaza after a bomb blast wounded two soldiers in the south of the territory.
The Israeli military announced earlier today that it had attacked Gaza, and that the target of the attack was a high-ranking commander of Hamas' armed wing, Raed Saad.
Hamas did not confirm Saad's death in a statement. It said a civilian vehicle was hit outside Gaza City, claiming it was a violation of a ceasefire that went into effect on October 10.
The Israel Defense Forces said that in recent months, Saad had participated in the renovation and production of Hamas weapons.
The Israeli statement describes Saad as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war, and states that he was also involved in rebuilding the terrorist organization and violating the ceasefire.
In March 2024, Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, believing Saad was there, but he managed to escape.
Saad is considered one of the few remaining members of Hamas's top military leadership in the Gaza Strip. He was previously head of Hamas's operations department.
Four people were killed in the Israeli strike west of Gaza City, an AP reporter who saw bodies being brought to Shifa Hospital said. Three others were wounded, according to a statement from Al Avda Hospital.
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
Israel is demanding that Palestinian militants return the remains of the last hostage from Gaza, claiming it is a condition for moving towards the second phase of a ceasefire that envisions the end of Hamas rule and the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision.
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