As they are pushing them to cease fire between and, the Palestinian organization’s decision will largely depend on its new de facto leader in. Ezedin al-Handad initially took over the military wing in Gaza after Mohammed Sinuar was killed in May by the Israeli forces. Last Thursday, Brigadier Efi Defrin, a spokesman for the Israeli army, said Handad was Hamas’s new leader – the third within seven months.
The 55 -year -old’s taking up duties comes at a time when Hamas, both in human resources and weapons. Israel says it has exterminated thousands of fighters and has destroyed much of the organization’s military infrastructure. However, Hamas’ ability to immediately replace its military leadership shows an organization that, though hurt, maintains vital cohesion and operational strength.
Who is the new leader
Hadad, known for the nickname “The Ghost of Al-Casham”, always maintained a low profile. He has survived multiple assassination attempts, although he has paid heavy personal price: both of his sons were killed in the year. At the moment, there is a fee of $ 750,000 from Israel for his head. After Israel officially announced the death of Sinuar in late May, Defense Minister Israel Kats said Hadad and Hamas’s leader Halil Al-Haja were the following on the list of targets.
His rise to the hierarchy began with the al-Kasam brigades, and played an active role in the internal security of the organization, tasked with identifying informants and partners. On the eve of the attack on October 7, 2023, Hadad handed over to Hamas senior commanders a document with instructions on the forthcoming operation, which included the abduction of Israeli soldiers.
Hadad, known to his compatriots as Abu Suheib, is one of the few remaining in -life commanders serving at the High -Heading Military Council on October 7th. At that time, he was the leader of the Hamas Division in the city of Gaza.
Homer’s testimony
Among the few testimonies for the new commander is the one brought to light by the Wall Street Journal from a former Israeli hostage, which was confined to anonymity.
Homer, now released, says he met Hadad five times while being a prisoner, and sometimes sleeping in the same apartment. The first time they met, in March 2024, Handad went in, sat on the ground next to two hostages and asked “how are you?” In the Hebrew, where the debate continued after his own exhortation.
Handad told them he was responsible for all hostages in Gaza, and then took out a smartphone and showed them photos of various hostages. He asked them if they needed anything, and at some point he ordered to bring a book to his released hostage that was lost during his transfer.
At their meeting later, in another home last name, Handad seemed different, according to the former Homer: his face was covered, his cold behavior and spoke of Israeli war crimes and abuse of Palestinian prisoners. The former Homer then learned that Hadad’s eldest son had just been killed by the Israelis.
Among other things, Handad had expressed his concern to Israeli about how he would characterize his treatment during captivity. The former Homer told him that some kidnappers were better than others. “This is life,” Hadad allegedly replied, “there are good people and there are bad people.”
The prospects for agreement
Hadad’s takeover of leadership has brought new parameters. According to intelligence sources, he has implied that he will either negotiate an “honest agreement” with Israel, or continue the war to the end, in what he called “either a war of liberation or a war of martyrdom”
It is generally considered more pragmatic than its predecessors, Mohammed and Sinuar, but it seems to be opposed to any plan that provides for Hamas’s blockade from the next day in the Gaza Strip – something that is a red line for Israel. This position, according to analysts, may prevent progress in talks on release of hostages, as the organization directly links it to the withdrawal of Israeli forces and recognizing its role in post -war governance.
