Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas resistance movement, announced the death of senior commander Raed Saad following an Israeli assassination in Gaza on Saturday.
The resistance group said Israeli forces killed Saad in a direct strike. It stressed that the attack is a blatant violation of Trump’s ceasefire agreement.
Al-Qassam said Israel crossed all red lines by targeting its leaders and civilians. It stated that Israel continues aggression despite the ceasefire.
The resistance group said Israel ignored the ceasefire plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. It said Trump and the mediators must bear responsibility.
Al-Qassam affirmed its right to respond and defend itself by all means. It also announced the appointment of a new commander to replace Saad.
The Israeli army had admitted that it carried out the attack in coordination with the Shin Bet security agency. It claimed the strike targeted a senior Hamas leader in Gaza City.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said they ordered the assassination.
Who Is Read Saad
Raed Saad was one of the most prominent historical commanders in Al-Qassam Brigades. He held key roles within Hamas’ military structure.
He previously commanded the Gaza City Brigade. He later headed military manufacturing.
Saad later served as chief of operations in the general military council. Hamas later transferred these duties to Mohammed Sinwar. Saad remained a leading figure inside the movement.
Saad was born on August 15, 1972, in Gaza City.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sharia from the Islamic University in 1993. He was active in Hamas’ Islamic Bloc at the time.
He later obtained a master’s degree in Sharia from the same university in 2008.
Saad joined Hamas’ armed wing at an early age. Israeli forces pursued him since the First Intifada in 1987 and detained him several times.
In 2007, he became commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade. He helped establish Al-Qassam’s naval force.
In 2015, he became head of operations. He served on a small military council with Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa between 2012 and 2021.
Israel accused Saad of overseeing war planning and strategic preparations for the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation. It claimed he helped design elite units.
Israel falsely claimed it detained Saad during the Al-Shifa Hospital raid in March 2024. It later admitted the claim was wrong.
Israel attempted to assassinate him several times during the Gaza genocide. In May 2024, an airstrike hit a residential area in al-Shate’ Camp in one attempt. In each failed assassination attempt Israel was killing dozens of civilians. The Israeli army later offered an $800,000 reward for information on Saad.
Israeli army radio said Israel tracked Saad for years. It said forces tried to kill him twice even after the ceasefire began in October 2025.
On December 13, 2025, the Israeli army announced a joint operation with Shin Bet in Gaza City.
Israeli army radio confirmed Raed Saad as the target. The broadcaster described him as the second most powerful figure in Hamas and declared the assassination successful.
