Israel announced it killed Iz Ad-Din Al-Haddad, a Hamas commander accused of being one of the masterminds behind the 7 October attack, after conducting an airstrike on a building in central Gaza.
On 16 May 2026, the Israeli government stated that its military launched an air operation in the Gaza Strip and succeeded in killing Iz Ad-Din Al-Haddad, commander of Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigade, whom Israel identified as one of the planners of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that Al-Haddad was responsible for the killing, kidnapping, and causing injuries to thousands of Israeli civilians and Israeli Defense Forces personnel.
However, Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied reports of Al-Haddad's death, who is considered one of the senior commanders of the armed Hamas group. Three local witnesses said that the residential Al-Mutaz building in central Gaza was simultaneously struck by three missiles from different directions, causing a severe fire, followed by a car fleeing the area being attacked again.
Rescue teams rushed to assist the injured but faced difficulties evacuating survivors from the building. Some witnesses reported at least one fatality and multiple injured people being evacuated. The person carried out of the building could have been Al-Haddad, wounded in the initial attack.
Although a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since 10 October, Israel continues its operations in the Gaza Strip, claiming the right to target Hamas members. Meanwhile, Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and continuously attacking civilians.