Israel kills Hamas weapons chief linked to October 7 massacre

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced the killing of Ra’ad Sa’ad, identified as the head of the Weapons Production Headquarters of Hamas’ military wing and one of the key planners of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

In a statement posted on its official channels, the IDF described Sa’ad as one of the last remaining veteran senior militants operating in the Gaza Strip and a close associate of Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas’ military wing.

According to the Israeli military, Sa’ad occupied several senior roles within Hamas and was regarded as a central figure in the group’s military leadership structure.

He was allegedly responsible for the deaths of numerous Israeli soldiers through explosive devices produced by Hamas’ weapons manufacturing units during the ongoing conflict.

The IDF further stated that in recent months, Sa’ad played a leading operational role within Hamas’ military wing, including what it described as direct involvement in violating ceasefire agreements.

He was also accused of overseeing the continued production of weapons in Gaza during periods meant for de-escalation.

Israeli military officials said his killing represents a significant blow to Hamas’ capacity to rebuild its military infrastructure and reconstitute its operational capabilities.

Hamas has not immediately commented on the claim, and independent verification of the circumstances surrounding Sa’ad’s death remains difficult due to restricted access to Gaza.