Israeli security cabinet officials emphasized between 2:46 PM and 3:15 PM UTC on December 13, 2025, that top Hamas commander Raad Saad, eliminated earlier that day in western Gaza City, continued violating the ceasefire agreement, commanded Hamas weapons production, and was a major factor in terrorist attacks against IDF forces, according to a statement reported by Holy Doron. The update from the cabinet, shared via Telegram by News - The C.B. Defense Cabinet, follows Israeli officials' confirmation earlier between 2:16 PM and 2:46 PM UTC that Saad was killed in an airstrike on his jeep, as reported by Moriah Asraf and Doron. Saad ranked second to Ezz ad-Din Al-Hadad in Hamas leadership in Gaza, leading weapons restoration efforts after heading operations and architecting the 'Wall of Jericho' plan from October 7, 2023, per prior IDF and security sources. The IDF had attempted to strike Saad twice in the past two weeks without success, executing the operation on December 13 upon opportunity in western Gaza City on the Hamas-controlled side of the ceasefire line, despite a separate Hamas violation injuring two soldiers.
