The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it had killed Ezzedine Al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’s military wing, in an airstrike carried out the previous day in Gaza City.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet internal security agency, the operation targeted Al-Haddad in what they described as a “precise strike” in the Gaza City area. The military said he was “eliminated” in the attack and identified him as a key figure involved in planning the October 7, 2023 cross-border assault on Israel.

The announcement came a day after the strike was conducted on Friday. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israel has carried out an ongoing military campaign targeting senior Hamas political and military leaders in Gaza and other regions.

Hamas sources also confirmed Al-Haddad’s death. One senior official said he was killed when an Israeli strike hit a residential apartment and a civilian vehicle in Gaza City. Another Hamas member of the group’s armed wing separately verified his death.

According to Hamas sources, Al-Haddad was killed along with his wife and daughter.

The Israeli military said the operation was part of its continued efforts against Hamas leadership following the October 7 attacks.