An Israeli airstrike on May 15 targeted a residential building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, resulting in at least three fatalities and approximately 20 injuries, according to local medical sources.
The attack reportedly aimed at a hideout believed to be occupied by a senior Hamas leader, Izza al-Din al-Haddad. Concurrently, an Israeli military source indicated that a vehicle attempting to flee the area was also struck to prevent escape.
Israeli officials confirmed that three aircraft were involved in the operation, dropping a total of 13 bombs. Shortly after the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly acknowledged that they had personally authorized the operation against al-Haddad.
In their joint statement, they described al-Haddad as the commander of Hamas’s military wing and one of the principal architects behind the October 7 attacks. The statement accused him of orchestrating violence that resulted in the deaths and abductions of thousands of Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Additionally, Israeli authorities alleged that al-Haddad was responsible for holding hostages, planning assaults on Israeli forces, and rejecting a U.S.-proposed plan for disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip.
Al-Haddad became the de facto military leader of Hamas in Gaza following the elimination of Muhammad Sinwar by Israel in May 2025. This airstrike marks a significant escalation, being the first high-profile attack on a Hamas leader since the ceasefire brokered by the United States in October.
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza targeted Hamas leader Izza al-Din al-Haddad, resulting in casualties. This operation marks a notable escalation in military actions following a recent ceasefire.