Israel says it killed top Hamas commander Raed Saed in Gaza strike

A senior Hamas commander, Raed Saed, is reported to have been killed in a targeted strike on a car in Gaza City, according to the Israeli military. The attack left four people dead and at least 25 others wounded, Gaza health authorities said. There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or medics that Saed was among the dead. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Saed was eliminated in response to the activation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded Israeli forces, calling him one of the architects of the 7 October 2023 attack. The Israeli military described Saed as a key figure, involved in Hamas’s weapons manufacturing and operations, with some sources also describing him as the second-in-command of the armed wing. Earlier on Saturday, the army said two reserve soldiers were lightly injured when the device detonated during an operation to clear the area in southern Gaza. Saed’s death, if confirmed, would mark the most significant assassination of a senior Hamas figure since a ceasefire agreement took effect in October. Reports also highlight the broader toll of the war, with Gaza health authorities noting tens of thousands killed and millions affected. Since the war began, the casualty figures continue to escalate, and the ceasefire has allowed substantial aid and some civilians to return to the ruins of Gaza City. The situation remains volatile as parties assess the implications for a fragile truce and ongoing humanitarian needs.

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