Israel has eliminated senior Hamas military commander Raed Saad in a targeted drone strike in western Gaza City, marking a decisive response to a recent Hamas attack that wounded Israeli soldiers. The operation was confirmed Saturday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who described Saad as a central figure in Hamas’s terror infrastructure and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre.

According to Israeli officials, the strike was ordered after Hamas operatives detonated an explosive device in the so-called Yellow Zone of southern Gaza, injuring two Israel Defense Forces soldiers. In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz said the decision to act was immediate and deliberate.

“In response to the activation of a Hamas explosive device that wounded our forces today in the Yellow Zone of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the elimination of the terrorist Raad Saad,” the statement said.

Israeli leaders accused Saad of violating ceasefire understandings by actively rebuilding Hamas’s military capabilities and planning further attacks against Israel. They said that instead of pursuing disarmament, Saad was engaged in rearmament and operational planning, directly undermining stability and violating commitments tied to President Donald Trump’s proposed framework for the region.

“Instead of advancing disarmament, he was engaged in rearmament for acts of terror,” the statement added, emphasizing that Saad played a key role in restoring Hamas’s attack forces despite international efforts to curb the group’s military activity.

Netanyahu and Katz issued a firm warning following the strike, reiterating Israel’s policy of zero tolerance for attacks on its forces. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel and harms IDF soldiers, his hand will be cut off in Gaza and anywhere else,” they said.

The operation underscores Israel’s continued commitment to targeted, intelligence-driven actions against senior terror figures, particularly those responsible for mass-casualty attacks and ongoing violations of ceasefire arrangements. Israeli officials signaled that further aggression by Hamas will be met with decisive force.