From the Liveblog of
Saturday, December 13, 2025
IDF confirms killing top Hamas commander Raad Saad in Gaza City strike
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF confirms killing top Hamas commander Raad Saad in an airstrike in Gaza City this afternoon.
Saad, head of the terror group’s weapons manufacturing headquarters and one of the architects of Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, was one of the few remaining members of Hamas’s top military brass in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the IDF says that in recent weeks, “repeated attempts by the Hamas terror organization to carry out terrorist attacks were identified, including the use of explosive devices against IDF forces, actions that constitute a blatant violation of the agreement.” The military notes that this morning, two reservists were injured by an explosive device in the Strip’s south.
“In parallel, the IDF identified attempts by the organization to restore and build up its capabilities,” the military says, adding that Saad “led Hamas’s force buildup, and his elimination constitutes a significant blow to the organization’s ability to rearm.”
The military publishes footage of the strike.
This footage shows an airstrike targeting top Hamas commander Raad Saad in Gaza City, December 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
The Times of Israel Community.