Hamas appoints new military chief after Israel kills al-Haddad, one of the last senior Oct. 7 architects - report
Israel eliminated the head of Hamas's military wing after tracking a series of operational security failures. Hamas has since named a successor who refused the role once before
Hamas has appointed Mohammed Awda as the new military leader of its Qassam Brigades, succeeding Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood. This is according to the London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, told to them by Hamas sources.
Awda served as head of Hamas military intelligence during the October 7 attacks and was previously offered the leadership position after the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025 but refused. Al-Haddad was appointed in his stead. However, Awda was considered close to al-Haddad and in constant contact with him, especially regarding plans to rebuild the organizational structure of Hamas's military wing.
Al-Haddad was eliminated in an IAF strike in the area of Gaza City last week. A member of Hamas for some 30 years, he was one of the last senior architects of the October 7 massacre and had assumed control of Hamas's military wing following the eliminations of Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "Al-Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted on thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. He held our hostages in brutal captivity, directed terrorist operations against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement led by US President Donald Trump aimed at dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip."