Tel Aviv [Israel], December 14 (ANI): The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) said Saturday they killed a senior Hamas commander who helped plan the October 7 attack on Israel.
In a December 13 statement, the IDF identified the man as Raed Saad, the “Head of the Weapons Production Headquarters of Hamas’ military wing” and “one of the architects of the brutal October 7 massacre.” The military released a video it said showed the strike.
The IDF said Saad oversaw production of all types of weapons for Hamas’ military wing prior to October 7 and led efforts to rebuild weapons manufacturing during the ongoing war. The strike was carried out amid what the military described as repeated attempts by Hamas in recent weeks to attack Israeli troops, including using explosive devices against IDF forces in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
“Raed Saad led Hamas’ force build-up, and his elimination significantly degrades Hamas’ ability to reestablish its capabilities,” the IDF said, describing him as among the last senior, experienced Hamas commanders in Gaza. The statement said Saad was a close associate of Marwan Issa, deputy head of Hamas’ military wing.
According to the IDF, Saad established and commanded the Gaza City Brigade, helped set up Hamas’ naval force in Gaza, and after serving as a brigade commander was appointed head of Hamas’ Operations Headquarters. In that role, the IDF said, he established the Nukhba Battalions and helped shape the “Jericho Wall” plan that underpinned Hamas’ October 7 operations. He was later appointed head of weapons production, overseeing manufacture of weapons used by Hamas fighters.
The Israeli military also blamed explosives produced under Saad’s command for the deaths of many Israeli soldiers during fighting in Gaza, and accused him of continuing weapons production during the ceasefire.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Saad was killed “in response to the activation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded our forces today in the Yellow Zone of the Gaza Strip.” They added he was engaged in restoring the terrorist organisation, planning and carrying out attacks against Israel, and rebuilding an attack force in violation of the ceasefire and Hamas’s commitments.
Palestinian media reported the strike hit a vehicle on the coastal Rashid Road on the Hamas-controlled side of the Gaza ceasefire line, saying four people were killed and more than 20 injured. Saad was reportedly killed along with three bodyguards.
Concluding its statement, the IDF said it and the ISA will continue to operate against the Hamas terrorist organisation.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Hamas has returned 27 of 28 bodies it held in Gaza, saying it needs time to search rubble for remains; Israel has accused Hamas of deliberate delays, according to the Times of Israel.
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