Last Hamas Commander Standing
Who Is Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the Senior Hamas Commander Holding Israeli Hostages?
Once a Gaza Brigade chief, Izz al-Din al-Haddad is now the last high-ranking Hamas leader directing talks and vowing renewed fighting if they fail.
In a statement last night, IDF Spokesperson Effi Defrin responded to a question about who is holding the hostages in Gaza, stating that the terrorist Izz al-Din Haddad, formerly the Gaza Brigade Commander of the terror organization, is the senior Hamas figure still active in the leadership and involved in negotiations for the hostage deal.
Defrin added, “Hamas’s commander in the Gaza Strip is Izz al-Din al-Haddad, located in the northern Strip. I won’t elaborate further, and I’m maintaining discretion, but we are thwarting Hamas’s entire chain of command. Hakim Issa, whom I mentioned earlier, I believe can be said to be the fourth, four remain out of the fourteen founders of Hamas, and many more will follow. We will continue to target them and pursue them.”
According to intelligence sources, Haddad was involved in planning the October 7th terror attack and even gave an interview at the time to Al Jazeera, where he confirmed his role in the events.
Haddad has managed to survive despite Israel eliminating nearly all of Hamas’s senior terrorists, particularly those involved in planning the Hamas attack.
Among the senior figures who have been eliminated since the start of the fighting are Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, Ahmed Randour, Ayman Nofal, Rafi Salama, and Mohammed Shabana.
According to assessments, Haddad is located in northern Gaza City and is directly involved in negotiations for a future hostage release deal.
The New York Times reported that Haddad stated that his goal is to achieve a “honest deal” but clarified that if it is not reached, he will lead the fighting toward a phase of “martyrdom.”
Earlier, the IDF Spokesperson said:
“This week, we eliminated the terrorist Hakim Mohammed Issa. Issa served as a senior member of Hamas’s military wing and as the head of the organization’s combat support headquarters, considered one of its founders. Issa was a significant figure in the planning and execution of the murderous massacre on October 7th. Only a few of Hamas’s senior leaders who held positions before the massacre are still alive. We continue to pursue and strike them.
In addition, we eliminated two Hamas terrorists who were involved in the killing of seven IDF soldiers in Khan Younis last week. As you can see on the screen, in the Khan Younis area, Division 36 forces raided and destroyed a central and complex underground hub used by terror organizations in the Strip. Since the start of the operation, we have achieved a cumulative success of eliminating dozens of Hamas commanders and senior officials at all levels—from the field to brigade commanders and leadership.”
The IDF Spokesperson added: “In the near future, we will reach the lines designated and approved for the current phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots.’ From there, there are several possibilities for further developments. We will present plans to the political echelon and act accordingly. We will continue to operate to achieve the war’s objectives—returning the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s rule.”