Izz al-Din al-Haddad

Az al-Din al-Haddad, known as Abu Suhaib, is the commander of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and a member of the organization’s senior military council. During the October 7 attack, he served as the commander of the Gaza Brigade, directing the assault on the Israeli communities near Gaza and overseeing the kidnapping of soldiers and civilians. He joined Hamas in 1987 and gradually rose through the ranks to command the Gaza City Brigade. Over the years, he commanded Hamas units during major rounds of fighting in the Gaza Strip, including Operation Cast Lead, Pillar of Defense, and Guardian of the Walls, and is considered one of the organization’s senior military figures. He survived several Israeli assassination attempts, while several members of his family, including two of his sons, were killed during the fighting. Following the assassination of top Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif and Mohammed Sinwar, he assumed the organization’s operational leadership.