Israel Kills Hamas No. 2 in Gaza Airstrike

Israeli forces conducted an airstrike in the Gaza Strip that killed Raed Saad, described as one of the main commanders of Hamas's armed wing.

“At least three Palestinians have been killed in Israeli drone strikes in war-battered Gaza, nearly two and a half years into Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, as severely limited medical evacuations restarted through the Rafah border crossing”

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Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya publicly acknowledged the death of Saad, who was eliminated in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz called a targeted response.

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The assassination took place on Saturday, December 14, 2025, with thousands of Gazans attending Saad's funeral, reflecting his significant position within the resistance organization.

The Israeli leadership framed the killing as necessary counter-terrorism, while Hamas officials warned it directly threatened the viability of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement.

The assassination of Raed Saad represents another escalation in Israel's ongoing military campaign against Palestinian resistance in Gaza.

Independent researchers estimate that Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 72,000 people, including tens of thousands of children and women.

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Some researchers believe the actual death toll is significantly higher due to incomplete reporting and undercounting in the besieged territory.

The timing of the airstrike coincided with Israel's restrictions on humanitarian access, including the Rafah crossing which had been closed for 19 days while Israel bombed Iran.

This pattern of targeted killings amid widespread civilian suffering has drawn international criticism for disproportionate military responses that violate international humanitarian law.

The Israeli military's operations extend beyond Gaza into the occupied West Bank, where forces have continued lethal violence against Palestinians.

“At least three Palestinians have been killed in Israeli drone strikes in war-battered Gaza, nearly two and a half years into Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, as severely limited medical evacuations restarted through the Rafah border crossing”

Al Jazeera

Palestinian health authorities confirmed that Israeli forces killed Mohamed Wael al-Charouf, 23, in the southern West Bank near Hebron, describing him as shot dead by Israeli forces.

The Israeli army claimed the killing was justified, stating they had 'eliminated a terrorist who had attempted to stab them in the Hebron region.'

Additionally, a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in Jenin in northern West Bank on Saturday.

These incidents reflect Israel's broader campaign of targeted killings and collective punishment that has intensified since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement was established.

The assassination of Hamas commander Raed Saad and the associated military operations occur against a backdrop of severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Medical infrastructure has been systematically destroyed and access to basic healthcare remains severely restricted.

Al Jazeera

Only eight Palestinians who were injured in Israeli attacks and 17 of their family members were allowed into Egypt for medical treatment after the Rafah crossing reopened.

The crossing, described as a 'lifeline for Palestinians,' had been closed for 19 days while Israel conducted bombing operations against Iran.

International humanitarian organizations have condemned Israel's restrictions on medical evacuations as violations that compound the genocide unfolding in Gaza through systematic deprivation of basic medical care.