Overview
- Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the strike after a Hamas explosive injured Israeli troops earlier the same day.
- The army and Shin Bet described Raad Saad as a key architect of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the head of Hamas's weapons production effort.
- Israeli security services said they targeted Saad during a rare surface movement in western Gaza and released video showing the vehicle strike.
- Gaza Civil Defense and al‑Shifa hospital reported five people killed near Tal al‑Hawa and more than 25 wounded, with witnesses citing multiple missiles.
- Analysts warn the killing risks straining a fragile ceasefire and complicating phase‑two negotiations, while it remains unclear whether the United States approved the operation.