GAZA, (PIC)
The leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad, Abu Sohaib, was one of the most mysterious leaders of the Qassam Brigades of the Hamas Movement, as he remained for many long years leading military and security work for the Movement, while he was absent from the spotlight and media appearance, until he was nicknamed within Israeli circles as the “Ghost”.
With the announcement of his martyrdom following an Israeli raid that targeted him on Friday in Gaza City, a chapter is closed from the chapters of one of the most prominent field leaders whose names were linked to building the military strength of the Qassam and managing the confrontation with the Israeli occupation during the most complex stages in the history of the Gaza Strip.
From the heart of Gaza to the leadership of the Qassam Brigades
The martyr Izz al-Din al-Haddad, born in 1970, hails from Gaza City, and he is considered one of the prominent military leaders who rose within the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, through long years of secret organizational and military work.
His name emerged widely as the commander of the Gaza Brigade in the Qassam Brigades, which is one of the most important and sensitive military brigades, given its position in the heart of Gaza City and the political, military, and security weight it represents.
During the years of his work, the name of al-Haddad was linked to the files of rebuilding the fighting capabilities of the Qassam Brigades and developing field confrontation methods, especially regarding urban warfare, tunnels, and complex security work.
Why was he called the “Ghost”?
Al-Haddad was not one of the leaders who appeared in the media or public events, but rather he was known for a highly secret security personality and the absence of almost any public presence, which made him one of the most mysterious figures within the Qassam.
Israel failed, over years, to eliminate him despite placing him on assassination lists, while repeated Israeli reports spoke of his survival from numerous targeting attempts during successive wars on the Gaza Strip.
This mystery shrouding him, along with his prominent military role, prompted the Israeli media to describe him as the “Ghost”, considering him a leader who manages sensitive files within the armed wing of Hamas while avoiding public appearances.
A pivotal role after “Al-Aqsa Flood”
After the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on the seventh of October 2023, the name of al-Haddad rose strongly in the Israeli media, which considered him one of the most prominent leaders responsible for managing the field battle inside Gaza City and the northern Strip.
According to Israeli estimates, al-Haddad played a central role in managing combat operations and coordination between field units, especially after the targeting of a number of senior leaders of the Qassam Brigades during the war.
The Israeli security establishment also considered him one of the “solid military minds” within the armed wing, in light of his long experience in security and military work and his ability to maintain a complex command network despite the conditions of war and continuous targeting.
The leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad had lost his two sons, Sohaib and Momen, as martyrs during the Al-Aqsa Flood battle, and he joined them as a martyr in an Israeli targeting on Friday evening, 15 May, on the same path, he, his wife, and his daughter.
A long pursuit that ended in martyrdom
Over years, Izz al-Din al-Haddad formed a permanent target for the Israeli security services, which considered him one of its most dangerous wanted persons, especially after the recent war on the Gaza Strip.
With his martyrdom, a new figure from the leadership rank in the Qassam Brigades joins the record of Israeli assassinations that targeted the military structure of the Movement. Israel believed that al-Haddad represented one of the pillars of the field and military leadership in Gaza.
Despite the long absence from the media, the name of Izz al-Din al-Haddad remained strongly present in the calculations of the security establishment inside Israel, as he was one of the men who managed the confrontation from the shadow until the last moment.
