Israel Threatens to Assassinate 4 New Hamas Figures
Israeli security sources revealed on Monday a new Hamas target list that includes the Movement's former representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, and its spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, the Maariv newspaper reported.
The new list comes shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Saturday threated to assassinate senior figures in both the political and military wings of Hamas, including Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of Gaza City Brigade, and Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent member of Hamas' political bureau.
Under the headline 'Top Hamas leaders in Israeli Army's Sights,' the Maariv newspaper said that following a series of assassinations involving Hamas politburo leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya al-Sinwar, Israel is now preparing to assassinate four other leaders: Hamdan in Lebanon, Abu Zuhri in Algeria, Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza, and even al-Hayya, a prominent member of Hamas's political bureau, who is abroad leading negotiations.
Last Saturday, Israel's Shin Bet threatened in a statement to assassinate al-Hayya and al-Haddad.
Katz said: 'Izz al-Din al-Haddad is in Gaza, Khaleel al-Hayya is abroad - you are next,' without providing further details.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israel has assassinated several Hamas leaders both inside and outside the Strip.
On Monday, Maariv confirmed that last month, eight tons of explosives thrown on a Hamas tunnel system that ran underneath the European Hospital in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, has killed Hamas leader in Gaza Muhammad Sinwar and two of his aides, in addition to the commander of the Rafah Brigade in Hamas, Mohammed Shabana, and central Khan Yunis field commander Mahdi Kawareh.
'The arrows are now directed towards al-Haddad, who survived the attack,' the newspaper wrote.
Last October, the Israeli army had killed Mohammad Sinwar's brother, Yahya, the leader of Hamas and an early architect of its armed wing.
Al-Haddad is dubbed 'The Qassam Ghost' due to his ability to evade capture and survive multiple assassination attempts.
In Hebrew, Maariv wrote, 'al-Haddad will meet his companions, (Ismail) Haniyeh, (Mohammed) Deif, and Sinwar.'
It said the next targets are Osama Hamdan, Sami Abu Zuhri and Khalil al-Hayya.
Hamdan currently oversees negotiations and was the Movement's former representative in Lebanon. Since the start of the war, he served as Hamas spokesperson and resides mostly in Qatar.
Abu Zuhri lives in Algeria and is frequently featured in the media while al-Hayyah is the de facto Hamas leader in Gaza, a member of its leadership council, and one of the negotiators for a ceasefire with Israel.
Since the confirmed death of Muhammed Sinwar, Israel aims to target the men now emerging as the group's de facto military leaders: al-Haddad, and al-Hayyah.
'It's official: Mohammed al-Sinwar and Rafah Brigade Commander Mohammed Shabana have been eliminated. Israel's long arm will reach every individual responsible for the October 7th war crimes, near or far, until all are eliminated,' Katz said in a statement issued Saturday.
Al-Haddad, nicknamed 'Abu Suhaib,' commands the Gaza City Brigade of the Qassam Brigades and sits on Hamas's inner military council.
The Israel army believes that following the elimination of senior Hamas leaders, al-Haddad now serves as the Movement's leader in the Strip.
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