Hamas commander Raed Saed killed in Gaza City strike: Israel
What's the story
The Israeli military has confirmed the death of senior Hamas commander Raed Saed in a car strike in Gaza City on Saturday. According to The Guardian, the attack also left four or five others dead, according to varying reports from Gaza health authorities, and at least 25 injured. However, there is no immediate confirmation from Hamas or medics about Saed's death.
Targeted assassination
Saed's role in Hamas and Israeli response
The Israeli military has described Saed as "one of the architects" of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that Saed was targeted after a Hamas explosive device injured two Israeli soldiers earlier on Saturday.
Key figure
Saed's significance in Hamas and ongoing conflict
Hamas sources have described Saed as the second-in-command of the group's armed wing, behind Izz eldeen al-Hadad. He was also in charge of Hamas's Gaza City battalion, one of their largest and most well-equipped units. The war in Gaza started after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Ongoing conflict
Ceasefire agreement and continued violence
The retaliatory offensive by Israel has killed over 70,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials. A ceasefire agreement on October 10 allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to Gaza City and increased aid flows. However, violence continues with Palestinian health authorities reporting at least 386 deaths due to Israeli strikes since the truce.