Israel’s Killing of Senior Hamas Commander in Gaza Strike Threatens Fragile Ceasefire, Hamas Warns
A high-ranking Hamas military commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City, igniting immediate warnings that the targeted killing could seriously undermine the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement that has barely held since October.
Hamas confirmed that Raed Saed, described by both Israeli and Palestinian sources as one of the group’s most senior commanders and key figures behind weapons production and military planning, was killed in the strike on Saturday. The attack also killed at least four people and wounded more than 25 civilians and fighters, according to Gaza health officials.
Hamas Says Targeted Killing Jeopardizes Gaza Peace Deal
In a public statement, Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya blasted the targeted assassination of Saed as a clear violation of the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement and threatened that the truce could collapse entirely if such actions continue. “The continued Israeli violations to the ceasefire agreement… and latest assassinations that targeted Saed and others threaten the viability of the agreement,” al-Hayya said.
Al-Hayya called on mediators, particularly the United States administration under President Donald Trump, to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire’s terms and avoid further escalations. Hamas officials have also reiterated that any international stabilization force deployed in Gaza must focus strictly on maintaining peace and separating the parties along the borders, without intervening in internal governance.
Israel Defends Targeted Strike as Self-Defense
Israeli military officials said the strike was launched after intelligence indicated Saed was actively working to rebuild Hamas’s weapons and militant capabilities, which they argue constitutes a breach of the ceasefire. Israel claims the operation was a necessary defensive response after militant activity, including an explosion that wounded two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza.
Israel has labeled Saed a key architect of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel — an assault that triggered the war in Gaza — and described him as instrumental in reorganizing militant infrastructure that threatened renewed hostilities.
Ceasefire Agreement Under Strain
The October 2025 truce deal — brokered with U.S. backing — called for a ceasefire, release of hostages, and phased negotiations on broader peace arrangements, including disarmament and international stabilization forces. Although large-scale fighting subsided, targeted strikes and skirmishes have continued, highlighting persistent instability and mutual accusations of violations.
Following Saed’s killing, thousands of mourners gathered in Gaza City for his funeral, signaling that his death has galvanized support among Hamas loyalists and intensified local tensions that risk unfolding into deeper conflict.
International Reaction and Next Steps
U.S. officials have privately criticized the strike, warning that actions perceived as violating the ceasefire could derail diplomatic initiatives and complicate efforts to move into a second phase of the agreement. Meanwhile, regional mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey continue to push for momentum toward sustainable peace and broader ceasefire enforcement.
As the situation develops, analysts say that Gaza ceasefire tensions after the killing of senior Hamas commander Raed Saed will remain a central focus of peace negotiations and Middle East security discussions in the coming weeks.
