By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
A precision Israeli airstrike in Gaza City has killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the most senior military leader of Hamas. The operation marks a significant escalation that threatens a fragile, United States-brokered ceasefire. A joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency confirmed the targeted strike. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem later confirmed the death, calling al-Haddad “one of the greatest fighters of our Palestinian people.”
The elimination of al-Haddad removes a highly secretive figure from the conflict. Known as the “Ghost of al-Qassam” for his low profile, he led the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. Following the previous assassinations of top leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif, intelligence officials considered al-Haddad to be one of the militant group’s final top decision-makers.
Twin Strikes Shock Central Gaza Neighborhood
The operation unfolded in the al-Rimal neighborhood near the center of Gaza City. Emergency services reported that an Israeli aircraft struck a residential building known as Al-Mu’taz. Three eyewitnesses told the BBC that the apartment block was struck by three missiles launched simultaneously from two separate directions, which sparked a large fire.
Moments later, a second airstrike targeted a car on a nearby street roughly 1.5 kilometers from the apartment block. Eyewitnesses and a local source reported seeing armed members of Hamas dressed in civilian clothing evacuating a severely wounded person through a side entrance and placing him into the vehicle. Sources indicated the vehicle may have been carrying al-Haddad after he was critically injured in the initial bombardment.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene but faced significant difficulties evacuating the wounded. The twin strikes killed at least seven people and injured more than 50 others. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, told CNN that the medical complex received the bodies of seven dead from the strikes, including three women and a child.
Paramedics with the Palestine Red Crescent Society responded to both sites. The organization transported nearly 30 injured patients to the Al-Saraya Field Hospital for emergency treatment.
Israel Defines Targets and Vows Further Action
Israeli leadership defended the operation as a necessary counter-terrorism measure. The military stated that al-Haddad was killed in a “precise strike.”
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said that al-Haddad had been “responsible for the murder, kidnapping and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers”. Israeli authorities explicitly accused him of being one of the “architects of the October 7 massacre” and blamed him for holding hostages in the aftermath of the initial assault.
Following the announcement, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed to “continue to pursue our enemies, strike them and hold accountable everyone who took part in the October 7th massacre.” Netanyahu and Katz echoed this stance, declaring, “We will continue to act forcefully and decisively against anyone who took part in the October 7 massacre.”
Ceasefire Precarious Amid Political Deadlock
The high-profile assassination highlights the extreme fragility of the ostensible ceasefire that has been in place since October 10. Despite the truce, Israel has conducted regular strikes across the Palestinian territory. The Israeli government maintains it has the license to target Hamas members and neutralize what officials describe as imminent threats to Israeli forces occupying more than half of the enclave.
Conversely, Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of breaching the terms of the ceasefire and attacking civilians. The political track has grown increasingly complicated since the outbreak of the regional Iran war, which has stalled United States-led peace efforts.
The U.S. announced the start of the second phase of its peace plan in January. The framework intended for a transitional, technocratic administration to assume governance of Gaza alongside the demilitarisation and reconstruction of the territory.
However, disarmament talks remain deadlocked. Israeli leadership stated that al-Haddad “refused to implement the agreement led by US President Trump to disarm Hamas and demilitarise the Gaza Strip.” In the absence of a political resolution, Hamas has since reactivated its police force and appears to be reasserting its authority on the ground.
Grim Toll of a Two-Year War
The targeted killing is the latest chapter in a devastating two-year war triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That initial assault resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people, while 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded with a massive military campaign to dismantle Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 72,744 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began. The ministry notes that the violence has not ceased with the diplomatic truce, reporting that 857 people have been killed since the ceasefire officially took effect.
In Gaza, crowds gathered on Saturday to mourn the commander. Social media footage appeared to show al-Haddad’s coffin being carried through the streets of Gaza City. In the video, one individual can be heard saying, “Rest in peace Abu Suhaib, and we will continue the struggle,” using the local nom de guerre of the fallen commander.
Geopolitical Outlook Following the Strike
The death of al-Haddad leaves Hamas’s military wing at a critical crossroads, forcing the group to navigate an increasingly vacant command structure while under pressure to maintain its governance on the ground. Simultaneously, the strike deepens the impasse over the U.S.-led peace plan, as Israel signals its intent to neutralize senior militant figures regardless of active diplomatic frameworks. With the ceasefire fraying and political negotiations stalled, the prospects for long-term stability remain deeply uncertain for both Israeli security and the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
African Diplomatic Responses and the Stance of Ghana
The escalation in Gaza has triggered sharp reactions across the African continent, where diplomatic bodies are increasingly alarmed by the breakdown of international peace frameworks. Launching the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf strongly condemned the ongoing military campaign, stating that the “extermination” of the Palestinian people must stop. The AU continues to demand an immediate end to hostilities, full respect for international law, and the preservation of civilian lives.
Ghana has maintained a measured but firm diplomatic position, echoing its traditional foreign policy aligned with United Nations resolutions. Through its Permanent Mission to the UN, Ghana has consistently expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing that women, children, and the elderly suffer the most devastating impacts. While Accra has condemned violent attacks against unarmed Israeli civilians, the government continues to advocate for unimpeded humanitarian access and a negotiated two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side as sovereign states.
Economic Repercussions for Sub-Saharan African Households
Beyond diplomacy, the disruption of the Middle East ceasefire presents immediate material consequences for African economies. Joint analysis by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa reveals that the conflict transmits severe economic shocks directly to the continent. The instability has caused global oil prices to surge, significantly inflating import bills for net oil-importing African nations.
These energy shocks are triggering domestic currency depreciation and driving up transport and food inflation across Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, shipping bottlenecks through vital global maritime corridors threaten supplies of agricultural inputs like fertilizer ahead of critical planting seasons. For import-dependent economies like Ghana, which is currently stabilizing its macroeconomy following structural reforms, any prolonged global energy volatility risks introducing renewed inflationary pressures to local markets.
