Israel announced on Saturday (December 13) that it had killed Raed Saad, a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, after an explosive device detonated in the south of the territory, wounding two Israeli soldiers. The strike took place west of Gaza City and, according to an Associated Press journalist, killed four people, while three others were reported wounded by Al-Awda Hospital. Who is Raed Saad? Raed Saad served as Hamas’s official in charge of arms manufacturing and previously headed the group’s operations division. Israel described him as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, sparking the ongoing conflict. Israeli authorities said Saad was “rebuilding the terrorist organization” in violation of the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, 2025. Hamas response Hamas has not confirmed Saad’s death. In a statement, the group claimed a civilian vehicle had been hit outside Gaza City and called the strike a violation of the October ceasefire. Ongoing tensions and casualties Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Since the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes and shelling have reportedly killed at least 386 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says its attacks are in response to attacks on its soldiers. Ceasefire conditions and hostage issue Israel has demanded the return of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, from Gaza before moving to the next phase of the ceasefire. This next phase outlines a plan to end Hamas’ rule and rebuild Gaza under international supervision. Humanitarian impact Gaza has suffered extensive destruction, with more than 2 million residents displaced. The Palestinian Ministry of Health, which operates under the Hamas-controlled government, reports that more than 70,650 Palestinians have died in the two-year conflict, about half of them women and children. (With AP input)