A terrorist commander who played a central role in orchestrating the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel, slaughter of 1,200 people and abduction of 251 others has reportedly become the new chief of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.
Izz al-Din al-Haddad, 55, is reportedly overseeing the captivity of the remaining 58 hostages. He is the most prominent surviving leader from the pre-war leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization, with a $750,000 bounty on his head and an alleged track record of having survived six assassination attempts.
“You are next in line,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Haddad in a public statement.
The new Hamas terror chief is the only surviving member of the original five Hamas brigade commanders who led the terror organization under the watchful eyes of the Al Qassam military wing commander Muhammad Sinwar, who succeeded Mohammed Deif in that role after his assassination by Israel last year.
It was also Muhammad Sinwar who led the terrorist organization after Israel’s assassination of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last summer.
Muhammad Sinwar was assassinated by Israel on May 13 in a targeted strike on the terrorist organization’s command and control center beneath the European Hospital complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Rafah Brigade commander Muhammad Shabana was killed in the same attack.
Haddad has served as the head of the Hamas northern Gaza Brigade since 2023, which followed a two-year stint leading the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza City.
