Israel's military said it killed a top Hamas commander in Gaza who it described as one of the architects of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the two-year-long war . The military said it killed Raed Saad after an explosive device detonated and wounded two soldiers in the territory's south.

Hamas, in a statement, did not confirm Saad's death. It said a civilian vehicle had been struck outside Gaza City and asserted it was "a brazen criminal breach" of the U.S.-led ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10.

Saad served as the Hamas official in charge of manufacturing and previously led the militant group's operations division. The Israeli statement said that he had been "engaged in rebuilding the terrorist organization" in a violation of the ceasefire.

An Israel Defense Forces

See Full Page