This approach prevented his assassination until he was struck in his vehicle alongside three bodyguards on December 13, following multiple failed elimination attempts. One such effort unfolded in summer 2024, when the Israeli Air Force targeted a structure in the Shati camp – an area housing both a mosque and a school.

Saad handled diverse responsibilities within Hamas, spanning the organization's "civilian" infrastructure. Over three decades, he occupied a succession of critical positions directly linked to the October 7 massacre: operations chief, founder of the Nukhba (Hamas's elite commando force), naval force architect, and weapons production director. Throughout the war, he oversaw explosive manufacturing that claimed numerous IDF soldiers' lives. During the ceasefire, he orchestrated the restoration of the organization's strength.

"Generational transition"

Following his elimination, Israel Hayom has learned that Hamas is experiencing an accelerated "generational transition" due to dozens of senior operatives killed across two years. Today, scarce veteran figures populate the leadership, including "military wing head" Izz al-Din al-Haddad and intelligence director Mohammed Awda. They too face mounting responsibility portfolios. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Awda was appointed commander of the northern Gaza Strip brigade. Al-Haddad himself managed the hostages dossier.

Consequently, the terrorist organization increasingly depends on junior terrorist commanders possessing minimal experience, restricted authority, and diminished capabilities. This dynamic threatens decision-making capacity and strategic planning.

Hamas has enlisted thousands of fresh terrorists throughout the conflict. Nevertheless, these recruits have only basic training, lacking experience and authority, and have marginal capabilities.

Yet alongside them, a hardened nucleus of veteran, proficient terrorists has endured. Therefore, Hamas sustains operations via emergency committees and apparatuses controlling the economy, transit, and education, while attempting to terrorize the population through executions and public prosecutions. Simultaneously, certain local clans demonstrate resistance.

Regarding the Palestinian population, Hamas' core supporter base has remained steadfast. Conversely, support for Hamas has declined according to multiple surveys. Furthermore, numerous Gazans exhibit passivity amid Gaza's humanitarian conditions, particularly during winter storms. Gaza has reported that at least 16 Palestinians have perished from weather-related damage thus far, including building wall collapses.

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Shortly afterward, dozens more Israeli civilians attempted to cross the border in a separate incident. Several breached a barrier and entered the security buffer zone separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, but IDF troops and police officers rushed to the scene and prevented them from entering Gaza.

The IDF did not provide further details on the identities of the civilians or the circumstances that led to the attempted crossings.

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According to him, "Honestly, this is a strange and thoughtless decision. If Netanyahu had agreed at the beginning to open the crossing according to the agreement, he would have achieved the following things – respect from the international community, embarrassment for Egypt, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would have left, only a few hundred would have entered, and the US would have received this as a gift. This is a diplomatic failure."

Nevertheless, Israel views this as an appropriate sanction for the ongoing delay in delivering all deceased hostages.

That is, first a Palestinian police force would be deployed, then a technocratic government would be established, and the PA would return to managing the Strip, and only at the end would the disarmament process begin. According to this proposal, the weapons would pass to the custody of the Palestinian Authority, which would oversee their storage, and its role would be to prevent terrorists from accessing them. It has also been reported that Doha and Ankara are proposing an alternative to the PA: "international supervision."

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Israeli fighter jets fired three missiles at Sa'ad's vehicle in Gaza City, killing him. The US was informed of the strike only after it was carried out.

Sa'ad was considered the terrorist organization's second-in-command and the de facto deputy of Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas' military wing in Gaza.

According to the IDF statement, "In recent months, Sa'ad played a leading role in Hamas' military wing, including direct involvement in violating the ceasefire agreement. He also oversaw the continued production of weapons in the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire period."

ELIMINATED: Ra'ad Sa'ad, Head of the Weapons Production Headquarters of Hamas' Military Wing and One of the Architects of the Brutal October 7th Massacre

Sa'ad was one of the last remaining veteran senior militants in the Gaza Strip and a close associate of Marwan Issa, the… pic.twitter.com/nIa1VUqryI

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 13, 2025

Sa'ad, known by the alias Abu Moaz, was among the last senior veteran figures to remain in the Gaza Strip. He held a series of senior positions and was close to Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas' military wing, who was also killed. Among other roles, Sa'ad established and commanded the Gaza City Brigade and was involved in setting up Hamas' naval force in the Gaza Strip.

After completing his tenure as commander of the Gaza Brigade, Sa'ad was appointed head of operations headquarters. In that role, he established the Nukhba units and took part in designing and building the "Jericho Wall" plan, the framework on which Hamas based its plans for the October 7 massacre.

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UNRWA functions across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, delivering aid, schooling, medical services, social assistance, and housing to millions of Palestinians. The administration has accused the organization of Hamas ties, charges UNRWA has forcefully disputed.

Washington previously served as UNRWA's largest funder before halting contributions in January 2024 following Israeli claims that approximately a dozen UNRWA staff participated in the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas assault that ignited the Gaza conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently charged in October that the agency had evolved into "a subsidiary of Hamas," which America designated a terrorist organization in 1997.

Current American deliberations have not clarified whether the focus encompasses the entire agency or targets specific UNRWA officials or operational segments, and authorities appear undecided on the precise sanctions instrument they would employ, according to Reuters.

Potential measures State Department figures have explored include designating UNRWA a "foreign terrorist organization (FTO)," the sources indicated, though whether that option – which would severely isolate UNRWA financially – remains actively under consideration is uncertain.

Imposing terrorism-based sanctions on UNRWA would constitute a remarkable and extraordinary step, given America's UN membership and role as host nation for the United Nations, which established the agency in 1949.

William Deere, who leads UNRWA's Washington office, stated the organization would be "disappointed" if American authorities were genuinely exploring an FTO designation. He termed such action "both unprecedented and unwarranted."

"Since January 2024, four independent entities have investigated UNRWA's neutrality including the US National Intelligence Council. While occurring at different times and from different perspectives, they have all come to the same conclusion: UNRWA is an indispensable, neutral, humanitarian actor," Deere stated.

A State Department official responding to inquiries called UNRWA a "corrupt organization with a proven track record of aiding and abetting terrorists," according to the report. "Everything is on the table," the official stated. "No final decisions have yet been made."

State and other agencies possess multiple sanctions mechanisms, generally enabling asset freezes and travel restrictions aimed at specific individuals and entities. Numerous vital American allies provide UNRWA funding, prompting questions whether foreign officials could face penalties for supporting an organization if Washington sanctions UNRWA or its personnel on terrorism grounds.

The UN has stated nine UNRWA employees may have participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and were fired, according to the report. A Hamas commander in Lebanon – killed by Israel in September – was also discovered to have held a UNRWA position.

Individuals directly familiar with the UNRWA deliberations, who requested anonymity to reveal confidential discussions, privately voiced multiple humanitarian and legal apprehensions given the organization's unique role assisting displaced Palestinians.

Political appointees at State installed since Trump's term began have generally championed the drive to impose terrorism sanctions on UNRWA, the sources stated, according to the report. Numerous career State officials – including lawyers who craft designation language – have resisted, those sources added, Reuters reported.

In recent weeks, potential sanctions have been discussed by officials in State's Counterterrorism Bureau and Policy Planning Staff members, an influential internal policymaking entity, one source stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spent years calling for UNRWA's dismantlement, accusing it of anti-Israeli incitemen. Since January 30, Israel has banned UNRWA operations on Israeli territory.

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"The genocide in Gaza has caused the killing of more than 70,000 people. This constitutes a grave violation of the values in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, the injustices in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories continue despite all the efforts of the international community," Erdoğan charged, according to statements quoted by the Turkish news agency.

The Turkish leader further emphasized that "the rehabilitation of Gaza, which has been turned into a pile of rubble, is a shared responsibility that rests on the shoulders of all humanity toward the Palestinians."

Meanwhile, Erdoğan addressed the domestic situation in his country, stating, "We will first achieve the goal of a Turkey without terrorism, and then, with God's help, we will announce the goal of a region without terrorism, based on development, solidarity, cooperation, and peace."

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According to Arabic media reports, Hamas has reassigned its operatives to positions left vacant after Israeli strikes during the war, including roles in its military wing, political bureau, shura council and administrative bodies in the Gaza Strip. It has also reportedly established a technical committee tasked with transferring governance to a technocratic body.

On Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said progress had been made toward forming a technocratic administration for Gaza. He said a list of candidates had been compiled and consultations were underway with relevant parties. So far, however, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have not reached agreement on the matter.

In other words, beyond the three senior figures in Hamas' military wing who survived the wave of assassinations, new commanders have been appointed. Those surviving officials are Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the current head of the military wing, Raed Saad and Muhammad Odeh. The same applies to the Gaza-based political bureau, whose members were mostly killed in the war or are abroad. But this does not mean Hamas has fully recovered. By definition, thousands of new operatives and commanders function at a far lower operational level compared to the organization's capabilities on the eve of Oct. 7.

Premature celebration

Hamas supporters celebrated in recent days following the killing of Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the Popular Forces in eastern Rafah, the first militia in Gaza established in cooperation with Israel. Even so, the group declared it would continue his path, and quickly appointed his deputy, Rassan al-Dahini, as his successor.

In a show of strength, al-Dahini held his first inspection of the forces in a military formation. He later declared, "Together we will act until evil and terrorism are eliminated and justice is done for the victims."

Speaking to Israel Hayom, Hossam al-Astal, head of a rival anti-Hamas organization in Khan Younis, said the People's Forces in Rafah would survive Abu Shabab's death. "They will manage. Rassan al-Dahini is the second in command there, and he knows the work, the people and everything." Despite Hamas threats, al-Astal appeared unfazed. "Hamas always needs to create chaos and claim we have problems so people will not join us. But people are constantly calling us and asking for help."

According to him, "The new Gaza, God willing, will grow. There is no more Hamas. We have great confidence and many friends. There are problems, but they are small. Hamas terrorists cannot cross the Yellow Line. They have police in al-Mawasi and there they kill people. They do it to show they are still present, just as they did with the Durmush clan after the cease-fire." He added that "something new will happen soon. There is no Hamas, and what remains of Hamas is 5 to 7 percent."

Al-Astal and al-Dahini are not the only militia leaders who oppose Hamas in Gaza. Rami Khalas, who heads another militia operating in eastern Gaza City, stressed on Friday, "We remain committed to fighting terrorism and extremism in order to build a new future for our Palestinian people." Another leader, Shauki Abu Nasira, a former security prisoner, declared over the weekend, "The death of Abu Shabab strengthens our determination to continue. Death to Hamas." All of these men previously served in the Palestinian Authority's security apparatus.

The anti-Hamas militias are signaling that they intend to stay. Still, they cannot realistically provide a governing alternative to Hamas on their own. The terrorist organization still controls thousands of fighters in the heart of the Gaza Strip. Without IDF protection, it is doubtful these militias could survive Hamas attacks. Even if a trained Palestinian Authority police force were eventually allowed to enter the Gaza Strip, there is no guarantee that Hamas or other terrorist organizations would lay down their arms.

Inside Gaza, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as winter sets in. The tents housing displaced families are flooded with rainwater and sewage infrastructure remains destroyed, leading to the spread of disease. Residents complain of inadequate medical services and the hardship of living without shelter after countless homes were destroyed in the war.

Meanwhile, Hamas' health ministry reported that hundreds of bodies have been removed in recent weeks since the cease-fire began. The ministry also reported 367 deaths in strikes during that period. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza health ministry claims that 70,354 Palestinians have been killed.

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Palestinian sources had already reported in late May that a new armed force was taking control of food trucks in Rafah in southern Gaza. The militia was led by Abu Shabab, who previously served time in a Hamas prison. According to Hamas-linked circles, he was able to break out following an Israeli airstrike during the war and subsequently took command of a group estimated at 100 to 300 armed men.

The Abu Shabab clan belongs to the large Tarabin tribe, one of the most powerful in the Gaza Strip. Members of the tribe cooperated with Islamic State during the past decade as part of the smuggling trade between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, in which Hamas also played a major role. The clan itself does not hold ideological affiliation with Islamic State.

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The August 6 assault left the sergeant unable to resume her duties for three months after sustaining a fractured lumbar vertebra. Prosecutors told jurors that Corner launched his attack while Evans knelt on the ground, arresting a female demonstrator at the defense technology manufacturing site.

Corner has entered a not guilty plea to charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Five additional activists – Charlotte Head, 29, Leona Kamio, 30, Fateema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31 – similarly deny accusations of aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder stemming from the incident.

Video evidence presented to the court shows the six-person group forcing entry into the compound, with sledgehammers allegedly wielded as offensive weapons during the confrontation with responding officers. The defendants reportedly arrived at the facility using a prison transport vehicle.

NEW: Police release footage to trial of the Palestine Action members. It shows the attack on PC Kate Evans with a sledgehammer. This is distressing. She still isn't back to normal duties. Yet mainstream journalists and celebs call Palestine Action non-violent. A nasty joke. pic.twitter.com/pMuoOeGLby

— Heidi Bachram (@HeidiBachram) November 24, 2025

Evans testified that her first sensation after being struck was believing her spine had "shattered" when Corner's sledgehammer made contact, according to The Telegraph. The sergeant described to jurors the moments before the alleged assault when she struggled to handcuff the activist beneath her.

"I can remember struggling with the handcuffs," she stated. "The ratchet bit got caught on the clothing, on her red boiler suit. Then I remember looking up at my colleague – he just had this shocked face on him – then I just remember pain in my back."

Evans recounted the physical sensation that followed: "It was just a massive shock vibrating through my whole body, a thud on my back. It just spread throughout my whole body, down to my legs. I felt frozen." She continued: "I was stunned to begin with. I didn't know what it was. I remember looking around and seeing the male with the sledgehammer behind me."

Describing her racing thoughts in that instant, the sergeant told the court: "I can remember a million thoughts racing through my head. When I look back, it was almost like I was in a movie and everything happened really fast around me. My head's thinking my spine is shattered at this point."

Pc. Peter Adams, who witnessed the alleged attack, testified that he observed Corner deliver two blows to Evans's back with the tool. The colleague recounted to jurors: "I remember her screaming in pain, and she's fallen to the floor on her back."

Medical examination revealed extensive bruising across Evans' back, with X-ray imaging confirming a fracture to her lumbar spine, the court heard. The injury required her to remain on medical leave from frontline policing duties for approximately three months.

Pc. Aaron Buxton provided additional testimony about his own confrontation with the "blond male" who allegedly attacked Evans, stating the activist had swung a sledgehammer at him moments earlier while he restrained a different demonstrator on the ground. Buxton told jurors: "I was laid on my back with the male with brown hair on top of me. The male with blond hair turned and walked back towards us. He has swung the sledgehammer multiple times towards me." He added: "I don't know how many times he swung it, because in the moment I was scared. I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio. I had quite considerable pain down that area of my leg following it. Also I had slight bruising come up."

Police apprehended all six defendants at the Elbit Systems manufacturing plant following the alleged break-in and assaults. The court was informed that Elbit Systems UK produces defense technology equipment as a UK-registered entity, with its parent corporation headquartered in Israel.

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The organization's operation began on May 26 to make certain meals reached the local population and to prevent Hamas terrorists from diverting goods. GHF also noted the distribution of "more than 1.1 million packs of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) for malnourished children."

The GHF executive director, John Acree, confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that the foundation's original objective – to address an immediate necessity and establish a successful alternative to prior failed approaches before handing it over to the wider global community – has been met. He believes that goal is now achieved, with the establishment of the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) and the renewed commitment of the international humanitarian sector. Acree further explained that international organizations and CMCC "will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted. As a result, we are winding down our operations as we have succeeded in our mission of showing there's a better way to deliver aid to Gazans."

Their mission, which was focused solely on feeding civilians, built a functioning new model that "worked, saved lives and restored dignity to civilians in Gaza," he said. Former US service members, humanitarians, local Gazan workers, and partners like Samaritan's Purse, were part of the dedicated team that "risked their lives to feed the people in Gaza amidst an active war conflict." Reports indicated that United Nations aid organizations, allegedly compromised by corruption and support for Hamas terrorism, resented the GHF's proven effectiveness.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced numerous criticisms since May concerning its operations, including claims of Gazans being injured and killed at distribution points; United Nations agencies and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) also accused the group of using aid as a weapon. For instance, the commissioner-general of UNRWA demanded in July that the GHF be shut down, asserting it "provides nothing but starvation and gunfire to the people of Gaza."

Fox News Digital received confirmation from a private source in August that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are "actively helping the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation get food into the hands of civilians while UN agencies, including WFP and OCHA, through their unwillingness to coordinate with the IDF, are inhibiting the distribution of such aid." This private source's "accusation is delusional," according to Stéphane Dujarric, the United Nations secretary general's spokesperson, as he told Fox News Digital at the time. The GHF responded to Fox News Digital that it "repeatedly offered to help UN agencies secure and distribute their aid to meet the need in Gaza while preventing looting and diversion. During its entire four-and-a-half months of operations, not a single GHF aid truck was looted."

Attributing its success to "the Trump administration's call for innovation and early confidence in our mission, recognizing that American leadership, clarity of purpose and accountability to results are still the international gold standard," the GHF believes "American-led solutions and compassion work." The group's leaders affirmed that it will not dissolve as a registered NGO and is prepared to restart its mission "if new humanitarian needs are identified." Acree concluded, "What our team will miss the most are the friendships and camaraderie developed with thousands of Gazans, especially the women and children we served. In early July, as the food security situation in Gaza improved, our operations stabilized, and we experienced a major shift in winning over the trust of aid seekers to the point where our aid sites became local hangout spots for women and children interacting with our team on a daily basis. We will miss them dearly."

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