Hamas’s Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, confirmed on Sunday that Raed Saad, the head of the group’s weapons production, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip a day earlier.
Speaking in a televised address on Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV, Hayya said Palestinians were enduring “extremely difficult conditions” amid the ongoing conflict. He stated that more than 70,000 people had been killed since the war began and identified Saad as the latest senior commander to die.
Israel announced on Saturday that it had killed Raed Saad, describing him as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the war in Gaza.
According to the Israeli military, Saad headed the weapons production headquarters of Hamas’s military wing and played a central role in building the group’s operational capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Saad’s elimination marked a significant blow to Hamas’s military infrastructure.
Details of the Strike in Tel al-Hawa
Medical sources and Gaza’s civil defence agency said an Israeli strike hit the Tel al-Hawa district, southwest of Gaza City, killing five people.
The Israeli army told AFP that it conducted a single strike in the area, which it said targeted and killed Raed Saad. Family members later confirmed his death and said his funeral would take place on Sunday.
🎯CONFIRMED: In response to Hamas’ ceasefire violation earlier today, the IDF eliminated top Hamas terrorist Raad Saad.
Saad was one of the architects of Hamas’ invasion of Israel and brutal 10/7 atrocities.
In recent months, Saad was directly responsible for Hamas violations… pic.twitter.com/v9fs87i1Uu
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) December 13, 2025Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence service, said Israeli warplanes targeted a civilian jeep-type vehicle near the Nabulsi roundabout with multiple missiles, setting it ablaze. He said the bodies recovered were badly charred and were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital.
Hospital officials confirmed receiving the five bodies and said more than 25 people were injured in the strike.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation at the site, with vehicle parts scattered across the road. One resident said locals attempted to extinguish the fire after the missiles struck, while another witness reported seeing Hamas members arrive shortly after the attack.
AFP footage showed the destroyed vehicle amid debris in the Tel al-Hawa area. The strike comes amid a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10. Under the agreement, Israeli forces withdrew to positions behind the so-called Yellow Line, although Israel continues to control more than half of Gaza.
Despite the truce, tensions remain high. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, underscoring its fragile nature. Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s military said two reserve soldiers were lightly injured when an explosive device detonated during an operation in southern Gaza.
