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Israel Kills Senior Hamas Weapons Chief Ra'ad Sa'ad, a Key Planner of Oct. 7 Attack

In a major blow to Hamas's military wing, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it killed senior commander Ra'ad Sa'ad, the head of the group's weapons production and a top figure in planning the October 7, 2023, attacks.

The targeted drone strike hit Sa'ad's car on Al-Rashid road, west of Gaza City, on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The attack killed four to five people and wounded at least 25 others. While Israel confirmed Sa'ad's death and his family sources reportedly acknowledged it to news agencies, there was no immediate confirmation from Hamas or local medics.

Who Was Ra'ad Sa'ad?

Ra'ad Sa'ad (also reported as Raed Saad/Saed), born in 1972, was a pivotal figure in Hamas's military structure. His roles and significance include:

Senior Military Commander: He was the head of the Weapons Production Headquarters for Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, leading the group's efforts to rebuild its arsenal. By late 2025, Israeli intelligence considered him the second-most senior Hamas military official in Gaza.
Key Planner of October 7: The IDF and Israeli officials described Sa'ad as "one of the architects" of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Longstanding Target: Sa'ad had been one of Israel's most wanted Hamas figures for over two decades. He survived a major Israeli airstrike targeting him in June 2024.

Context of the Strike and Broader Conflict

The assassination occurred against the backdrop of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated the strike was a direct response to a Hamas explosive device that wounded two Israeli reserve soldiers in southern Gaza earlier on Saturday.

Israeli officials stated that Sa'ad had been actively working to re-establish Hamas's military capabilities in violation of the ceasefire terms and that his death "significantly degrades Hamas' ability to reestablish its capabilities".

The October 7 attack, which Sa'ad helped plan, killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in over 250 hostages being taken to Gaza. 

According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. An Amnesty International report concluded that the October 7 attacks involved war crimes, including the murder of civilians and hostage-taking.


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