Israeli Military Confirms Targeted Strike in Gaza City
Israel’s military has announced that it carried out a targeted airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday, claiming the operation killed a senior Hamas military figure. According to the Israeli army, the attack focused on what it described as a “key Hamas operative” traveling inside a vehicle.
The strike reportedly took place amid an already fragile ceasefire, adding new tension to an unstable security situation in the Gaza Strip.
Casualties Reported as Vehicle Is Hit
Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said the explosion killed four people and injured several bystanders who were nearby at the time of the strike. Local emergency services described the blast as powerful, causing damage beyond the targeted vehicle.
Independent verification of the incident remains difficult, as international media outlets face restrictions on reporting freely from inside Gaza.
Possible Target: Veteran Qassam Brigades Commander
Local sources suggest the intended target may have been Raed Saad, a senior commander within Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. Saad is believed to be a member of a newly formed five-man military leadership council that emerged following the ceasefire that began in October.
He has long been regarded as one of Hamas’s most influential battlefield commanders and is accused by Israel of playing a major role in the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israeli communities near Gaza City.
A Longstanding Israeli Target
Israeli authorities have reportedly pursued Saad for more than two decades. Several previous attempts to kill or capture him are said to have failed, including a high-profile Israeli raid in Gaza City in March 2024, during which he allegedly escaped moments before troops arrived.
His survival over the years had made him one of Israel’s most wanted Hamas figures.
Strike Occurs Within Divided Gaza Territory
Saturday’s attack occurred on the Palestinian-controlled side of the so-called “Yellow Line,” a boundary that has divided Gaza since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October. Israeli forces currently control areas east of that line, covering more than half of the territory.
The timing of the strike has raised questions about how long the ceasefire can realistically hold.
Wider Conflict and Uncertain Path Forward
The incident comes as diplomatic attention shifts toward the next phase of a US-backed peace framework, which calls for Hamas to be disarmed and Gaza to be administered by a temporary technocratic authority under international oversight.
While the plan outlines a long-term vision that includes Israeli withdrawal and Palestinian self-governance, it remains deeply controversial, with major disagreements among Israeli leaders, Palestinian factions, and regional stakeholders.