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Gaza mosques announce Hamas military leader's death

Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza in the weeks since its joint bombing with the US in ​Iran. (EPA PHOTO)

Mosques in ‌northern Gaza have announced ‌Hamas' military wing ‌commander has died, a day after Israel's military reported ‌it had ‌targeted ⁠the armed wing chief ​in air strikes.

Witnesses said mosques in Gaza City had ⁠announced ‌Izz al-Din al-Haddad's "martyrdom". ​

There was no ​immediate comment from ‌Hamas on the ​fate of the militant group's military ​chief.

Israel ​has ​not said ‌if he was killed in the air strikes on Friday.

Israeli Prime ⁠Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement with his ​defence minister on Friday that Haddad had been targeted, though they did not say if he had been killed.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu said ‌Izz al-Din al-Haddad was an architect of the October 2023 attacks. (AP PHOTO)

Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Haddad was an architect of the October 7, 2023 attacks launched by Hamas militants that precipitated Israel's ongoing assault on ⁠Gaza.

Haddad, who became the group's military chief ‌in ​Gaza after Israel's killing of Mohammad Sinwar in May 2025, "was responsible for the murder, abduction, ​and harm inflicted ‌on thousands of Israeli civilians (and) soldiers," they said. 

Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked in indirect ​talks to advance US President Donald Trump's post-war plan for Gaza that is meant to end more than two years of fighting.

Medics in Gaza on Friday ​said ​at least seven people, including ​three women and a child, were killed ‌and at least 50 injured in air strikes targeting an apartment and a vehicle. It is not clear if Haddad was one of the dead.

Israeli air strikes in Gaza
Palestinians carry the body of a person killed during Israeli air strikes on Gaza. (AP PHOTO)

Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza in the weeks since halting its joint bombing with the US in ​Iran, redirecting its fire back on the ruined Palestinian territory where the military says ​that Hamas fighters are ⁠tightening their grip.

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