DayofPal—Thousands of Palestinians took part on Saturday in a large funeral procession for senior Ezz Eddine Al-Haddad, the commander-in-chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing.
Mourners carried his body through the streets of Gaza City following prayers at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque, chanting slogans in support of the Palestinian resistance and condemning Israel’s continued assault on Gaza.
His funeral drew widespread participation from residents across thr Gaza Strip despite continued Israeli bombardment and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Israeli forces killed senior Hamas military commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad in an airstrike targeting central Gaza City, according to Hamas sources and family members.
Family sources said Al-Haddad was killed in a direct Israeli strike late Friday. The attack also targeted a residential building and a vehicle in the Rimal neighborhood of central Gaza City, where at least eight Palestinians were reported killed.
The strike reportedly also killed his wife and daughter, while two of his sons had previously been killed during Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Israel announced Al-Haddad’s assassination on Friday, describing him as one of Hamas’s most senior remaining military leaders.
Hamas has not yet issued an official statement detailing succession plans within the movement’s military wing.
The killing comes amid Israel’s ongoing military offensives in the Gaza Strip, which has devastated large parts of the enclave and resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties since the war began in October 2023.
Al-Haddad, widely referred to by supporters as the “Ghost of Al-Qassam,” had long been under Israel’s chasing due to his prominent role within Hamas’s military structure.
The Ghost of Al-Qassam
Al-Haddad, also known as Abu Suhaib, was considered one of the most prominent and elusive leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades.
His assassination marks the end of a years-long Israeli pursuit of a commander deeply involved in shaping Hamas’s military strategy and battlefield operations.
Born in Gaza in 1970, Al-Haddad rose through the ranks of the Al-Qassam Brigades over decades of clandestine military and organizational work.
He later became commander of the Gaza Brigade, one of Hamas’s most sensitive and strategically important military divisions due to its position in the heart of Gaza City.
Palestinian sources say Al-Haddad played a major role in rebuilding Hamas’s military capabilities over the years, particularly in urban warfare tactics, tunnel operations, and internal security coordination.
Despite his high-ranking status, he remained largely absent from public appearances and media coverage, maintaining a secretive profile that contributed to his reputation as one of Hamas’s most mysterious commanders.
Israeli media frequently referred to him as the “Ghost of Al-Qassam,” citing repeated failures to locate or assassinate him during successive wars on Gaza.
Reports over the years confirmed he survived multiple assassination attempts while continuing to oversee sensitive military operations from within the enclave.
Following Al-Aqsa Flood Operation, Al-Haddad’s name gained increased prominence in Israeli security assessments.
Israeli analysts described him as one of the key field commanders responsible for managing combat operations in Gaza City and northern Gaza, especially after several senior Al-Qassam leaders were killed during the war.
According to Israeli estimates, Al-Haddad helped coordinate military units and maintain command structures under intense Israeli bombardment and ongoing military pressure.
Israeli security officials reportedly viewed him as one of the movement’s most experienced and resilient military strategists.
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