What's happened
Israeli forces targeted and killed Raed Saad, a senior Hamas figure involved in weapons manufacturing, in Gaza. The strike, which Hamas condemned as a ceasefire violation, resulted in four deaths and injuries to others. The incident marks the highest-profile assassination since the October ceasefire, amid ongoing tensions and accusations of violations.
What's behind the headline?
The targeted killing of Raed Saad signifies Israel's intent to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities, especially its weapons manufacturing network. The strike's timing, shortly after an attack that injured soldiers, underscores Israel's focus on high-value targets. Hamas's condemnation highlights the fragile ceasefire, which remains vulnerable to violations. The incident risks escalating tensions, potentially undermining the ceasefire and prolonging the conflict. The ongoing violence, despite the truce, indicates that both sides remain deeply entrenched, with Israel aiming to weaken Hamas's military infrastructure and Hamas seeking to preserve its leadership and operational capacity. The international community's role in mediating and monitoring ceasefire adherence remains critical to prevent further escalation.
What the papers say
The articles from AP News, The Independent, Sky News, France 24, and The New Arab provide a comprehensive view of the incident. AP News reports Saad's death as a confirmed Israeli strike, while The Independent and France 24 note Hamas's lack of confirmation and condemn the attack as a ceasefire violation. Sky News emphasizes Saad's role in weapons manufacturing and the attack's timing. The New Arab highlights Netanyahu's order and the attack's significance as the highest-profile since the ceasefire. Contrasting opinions focus on whether Saad was confirmed dead and the implications of the strike, but all agree it marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a two-year military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 70,660 Palestinian deaths. A US-brokered ceasefire began on October 10, 2025, allowing some return to Gaza, but violence persists with frequent accusations of violations by both sides.
Go deeper
Common question
-
What’s the Latest on the Gaza Conflict and Ceasefire Violations?
The Gaza conflict remains tense, with recent Israeli strikes and ongoing ceasefire violations raising concerns worldwide. Many want to know what’s happening now, how the violence is evolving, and what it means for civilians. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about the recent escalation, the humanitarian situation, and the prospects for peace.
More on these topics
-
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
-
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
-
Gaza City, often simply called Gaza, is a city in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Gaza Governorate. Located on the Mediterranean coast, 76.6 kilometres (47.6 mi) southwest of Jerusalem, it was home to Palestine's only port. With a popula
-
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
-
Gaza most commonly refers to:
Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip
Gaza may also refer to: