New Hamas Military Leader in Gaza Reshapes War Dynamics Amid U.S. Ceasefire Push

Watan–A report by The New York Times (Adam Rasgon and Ronen Bergman) reveals that as the U.S. intensifies pressure for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the decision now hinges heavily on the new de facto military leader of Hamas in Gaza: Az al-Din al-Haddad, who succeeded Mohammad al-Sinwar after the latter’s assassination by Israeli forces.

According to multiple intelligence and defense sources, Haddad—believed to be in his mid-50s—played a significant role in planning Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. Israeli Brigadier General Efi Dafrin confirmed his leadership. Haddad is thought to be staunchly opposed to Israeli efforts to dislodge Hamas from power, which may hinder any deal to release remaining hostages or end the war fully.

Former Israeli intelligence officer Michael Milshtein said Haddad upholds the same red lines as his predecessors. He reportedly resides in Gaza City and has declared in recent weeks that the war will either end in an “honorable deal” or become a “liberation or martyrdom war,” according to a senior Middle Eastern intelligence source.

Despite multiple failed attempts at indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, the Trump administration has been pushing a new 60-day ceasefire proposal. Hamas leaders were still debating it as of Thursday, with no official comment from senior official Izzat al-Rishq.

The major point of contention remains Hamas’s demand for a permanent end to the war, which Israel rejects unless Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are dismantled.

Haddad is the only top commander from October 7 to have appeared in a recorded interview (aired by Al Jazeera in January), where he outlined demands: Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, end of the war, prisoner releases, Gaza’s reconstruction, and lifting of movement restrictions.

Known as Abu Suhaib, Haddad was the Gaza City branch commander during the October attack. While many top Hamas leaders—like Mohammad Deif and Marwan Issa—have since been killed, Haddad and his close ally Raed Saad are believed to still be alive. His son Suhaib was reportedly killed in the war, and Israel’s Shin Bet claims to have killed Haddad’s aide Mahmoud Abu Hasira in April.

The war has killed over 50,000 people, flattened cities, and caused a dire humanitarian crisis. Israeli officials say Haddad, fluent in Hebrew, may have interacted with hostages in northern Gaza. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed Israel had sought to assassinate both Haddad and Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya (based in Qatar), citing documents showing Hayya’s involvement in planning the October attack.

Notably, the intelligence official said Haddad draws inspiration from Chechen resistance to Russian rule in the 1990s, viewing it as a model for Hamas’s long-term struggle in Gaza.