U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is examining whether Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement by conducting an airstrike on Saturday (13 December) that killed Hamas leader Raad Saad.
In a statement, Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed the death of its senior commander Raad Saad. He was one of the founders of Hamas' armed wing, and head of Hamas' production headquarters, responsible for the in-house production of rocket launchers, missiles, and anti-tank weapons.
The Al-Qassam Brigades strongly condemned Israel's continued killings of its commander and attacks on the people of Gaza in the statement, describing Israel's actions as "crossing all red lines."
The statement called on the United States and relevant mediators to bear responsibility, emphasising that the Al-Qassam Brigades reserves the right to respond to aggression and defend itself by all available means. It also announced the appointment of a new commander to succeed Raad Saad.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the operation, calling it a precision strike and describing Saad as a crucial figure in Hamas's efforts to rebuild its military capabilities.
Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military described Saad as one of the planners of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023, and "one of the last remaining senior militants" in Gaza.
It added that Saad was directly responsible for "violations" of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas in recent months, accusing him of overseeing the continued production of weapons during the ceasefire.
Netanyahu also noted that Israel is nearing the completion of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal and is currently working to recover the remains of the last Israeli hostage.
President Trump emphasised the strong relationship between his administration and Israel.
"Israel and I have gotten along very well. My relationship with Bibi Netanyahu has been obviously very good," Trump said on Monday.
"I have a very good relationship with Israel. We actually have a very good relationship with just about everybody in the Middle East," Trump added.
The U.S. continues to monitor the situation, while Israel maintains its stance on the necessity of targeting Hamas figures deemed to be a threat to national security.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 19th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for leading a failed 2024 martial law insurrection, making him the first elected leader in the country’s democratic era to receive the maximum sentence.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 19th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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