The Israeli military announced that it killed senior Hamas commander Raed Saed in a strike on a car in Gaza City. Saed was reportedly one of the key planners behind the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
The strike, which Gaza medics said killed five people, marks the highest-profile assassination of a senior Hamas figure since a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza was implemented in October. Hamas has not confirmed Saed’s death.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Saed was targeted in response to a Hamas attack earlier Saturday in which an explosive device injured two Israeli soldiers.
The strike is part of ongoing Israeli operations against Hamas leaders and infrastructure in Gaza, underscoring the continued volatility in the region even after the October ceasefire.