Hamas elected Ezzedin al-Haddad, a senior member of the terror organization to become their third leader in seven months following the assassination of former militant head Mohammed Sinwar.
The commander, also known as the “Ghost of al-Qassam,” reportedly played a fundamental role in rehabilitating Hamas’ militant infrastructure and is considered to have been a key figure in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, raid against Israel, according to The Wall Street Journal. His ascension comes after leaders Yahya and Mohammed Sinwar were assassinated by Israeli forces in 2024 and earlier this year, respectively.
The Israeli Defense Force placed a $750,000 bounty on Al-Haddad, identifying him as a prime target for the country after its mid-May strike that resulted in the death of his predecessor, Mohammed Sinwar. Al-Haddad led the forces in the northern Gaza Strip after Yahya Sinwar’s death, before assuming ultimate power of the terrorist organization.
Al-Haddad’s nickname stems from his underground profile and lack of public appearances, though both of his sons have been killed in the war, according to the Journal. His home has been repeatedly targeted in past conflicts, reportedly including strikes in 2009, 2012 and 2021.
Preceding the Oct. 7 attacks, al-Haddad reportedly met with Hamas leadership and distributed instructions for the operation, including explicit plans for the mass abduction of Israeli soldiers, the Journal reports. One Israeli hostage reportedly met with al-Haddad five times during their captivity; the then-commander claimed he “was responsible for all the hostages in Gaza.”
Al-Haddad’s ascension comes at a desperate time for Hamas, with its senior leadership dwindling and rank-and-file militants poorly trained and under-equipped, according to the New York Post. The financial state of Hamas is now reportedly at a point where it is “broke to pay fighters” and has resorted to seizing humanitarian aid to sell off in an effort to raise funds, the outlet reported.
Out of nearly twenty senior Hamas military council members before the conflict, only a handful are still thought to be alive, according to the Journal.
The change in leadership comes as Israel faces rising tensions in Iran and ongoing efforts to reclaim hostages and the bodies of those deceased in the war.
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