Hamas confirms death of senior commander in Israeli strike

GAZA -- Hamas' Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, on Sunday confirmed the death of senior commander Raad Saad in an Israeli strike a day earlier.

Marking the 38th anniversary of Hamas' founding, al-Hayya said in a televised address that "Raad Saad was killed along with his brothers."

He added that "this leader dedicated his life to his religion and homeland and lived as a fugitive from the occupation for decades."

On Saturday, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle west of Gaza City, according to Palestinian medical sources.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency said in a joint statement that Saad, the head of the weapons production headquarters in Hamas' military wing, had been killed.

The Israeli military described Saad as one of the planners of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, and "one of the last remaining senior militants" in Gaza.

It added that Saad was directly responsible for "violations" of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas in recent months, accusing him of overseeing the continued production of weapons during the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, al-Hayya called for the immediate formation of a technocratic committee of independent Palestinians to administer the Gaza Strip, affirming the movement's readiness to hand over full responsibilities in all areas and facilitate its work.

On the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza, the Hamas chief said the mission of such a force should be limited to maintaining the ceasefire and separating the two sides along the Gaza Strip's borders, without any role inside the strip or interference in its internal affairs.