The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas confirmed in a statement released on Sunday, December 14 that the head of its weapons production headquarters in the Gaza Strip, Raed Saad, was assassinated in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City the day before.

The high-ranking military official was the second-in-command in Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, after Izz al-Din al-Haddad. He is also believed to be one of the masterminds of the October 7 attacks.

Furthermore, Saad has been renowned for his seniority, and for having the longest experience among Al-Qassam’s current military commanders. In addition, he has been credited for restoring the brigades’ military capabilities in Gaza during and after Israel’s devastating genocidal aggression, which lasted for more than two years.

Hamas denounced the targeted assassination as “a blatant violation” of the US-brokered ceasefire deal, and warned that “the Israeli occupation crossed all the redlines” by assassinating the commanders of its military wing, as well as the Palestinian citizens, during its ongoing aggression on Gaza.

The movement further urged US President Donald Trump, and other mediators, to bear responsibility for the Israeli infringements of the truce agreement.

It is worth noting that Hamas also announced the appointment of a new unnamed commander, who will replace Saad after his killing.

The US is examining whether the assassination of Saad violated the ceasefire deal, says Trump

For his part, Trump declared during the Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation ceremony on Monday, December 15 that his administration is investigating whether the assassination of Raed Saad constitutes a violation of the ceasefire deal in place.

“We will have to see. We are looking into that,” the US president said to a reporter, who asked if the killing of Saad would jeopardize the fragile truce.

Israel’s decades-long assassination policy against Hamas

Israel has adopted targeted assassination as a strategic and tactical policy in an attempt to eradicate Hamas since the 1990s.

Over 20 top leaders, including the founder of the movement Sheikh Ahmad Yaseen, have been assassinated in the past three decades. Yet, their objective of eradicating the movement has not been met.

On the contrary, the Palestinian group has persistently rebuilt after each assassination, and has gained growing popularity over time, not only within Palestinian grassroots, but also among pro-Palestinian people worldwide.

Read more: Hamas leaders survive Israeli assassination attempt in Doha

The post Israel assassinates top Hamas commander Raed Saad in Gaza City appeared first on Peoples Dispatch.

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