Israel Kills Raad Saad, Hamas Commander Linked to October 7 Attack

Jerusalem: The dream of peace on the streets of Gaza was shattered again. On 13 December 2025, Israel claimed to have killed a senior Hamas commander. But this attack was not just going to cause one death but was also going to make a dent in the fragile ceasefire wall. Will this incident again derail Middle East peace efforts? Let us take a closer look at this tense story, where layers of pain and allegations are layered everywhere.

Who was Raad Saad, whose death shook everyone?

Ra'ad Saad was no ordinary name for Hamas. According to Israel, he was the head of the organization's weapons manufacturing department and the architect of the horrific attack on October 7, 2023, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed. According to Hamas sources, Saad was number two in the armed wing after Izzy al-Din al-Haddad. This man, who had been the commander of the most powerful battalion of Gaza City, was the most wanted in the eyes of Israel during more than two years of war. Last March 2024, Israeli forces tried to arrest him, but he narrowly escaped. Now, despite the ceasefire, Israel says that Saad was re-arming Hamas. 

How did the attack happen?

A vehicle was attacked by an Israeli drone in the western area of ​​Gaza City on Saturday afternoon. There was chaos in the area after the blast. Israel says this action was taken in response to the injury of two of its soldiers in southern Gaza. According to Gaza health officials, several people were killed and scores injured in the attack, including pedestrians. Ambulances continued arriving at Shifa and Al-Awda hospitals carrying the injured. Hamas says the vehicle targeted was a civilian vehicle and Ra'ad Saad's death has not been confirmed at this time.

Why did the ceasefire falter, and what do both sides say?

This ceasefire, implemented from October 10, 2025, was part of US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan. In the first phase, all the hostages have been released, except the body of a martyred police officer. But now the focus is on the second phase – disarmament of Hamas, de-radicalization of Gaza, and control of a technocratic committee. Trump will meet Netanyahu on December 29. Israel alleges Hamas is rearming, while Gaza authorities say Israel has carried out more than 800 attacks, killing 386, and blocked aid trucks. Hamas called it part of a 'genocidal war'. According to the BBC, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. 

How will this thorn in the path of peace be removed?

This incident deepened the pain of Gaza. Israel did not inform America in advance, which shows the rift in relations. Hamas's silence raises questions on Saad's death. For Palestinians, this is not just the death of a commander, but an attack on everyday life. For Israel, this is a question of security. But the question is – will the solution be found only through talks, or will rivers of blood flow again? Trump's Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force are still on paper. Netanyahu has rejected Palestinian statehood. What should the people of Gaza, who have been devastated by two years of war, expect now? Perhaps time will tell, but for now, tears and anger prevail.