Hamas on Saturday confirmed the assassination of senior leader Raed Saad, as Israeli occupation forces continued to violate the ceasefire agreement with renewed airstrikes and artillery shelling across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hamas said that Saad was killed in an Israeli strike, describing the assassination as part of a broader campaign of targeted killings that Israel has pursued despite the declared ceasefire. The movement stressed that the ongoing attacks expose the fragility of the truce and Israel’s lack of commitment to halting its aggression against the Palestinian people.

Local sources reported intensified Israeli air raids and artillery fire in both northern and southern Gaza, including residential areas, agricultural land, and eastern neighborhoods that have repeatedly come under fire since the ceasefire was announced. Witnesses said the bombardment forced families to flee once again, deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave.

Palestinian resistance factions accused Israel of deliberately undermining ceasefire efforts through assassinations, drone strikes, and continued military incursions, warning that such actions threaten to ignite a wider escalation. Hamas said the assassination of Raed Saad would not break the will of the Palestinian resistance, reiterating that “the blood of leaders and civilians alike only strengthens the people’s determination to confront occupation.”

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israel’s ongoing aggression since October 7, 2023, has resulted in the killing of at least 70,654 Palestinians and the injury of 171,095 others, the majority of them women and children. Health officials added that thousands remain missing under the rubble, while hospitals continue to operate under extreme shortages of fuel, medicine, and medical equipment due to the Israeli blockade.

Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to collective punishment and grave violations of international law, particularly amid continued attacks during supposed ceasefire periods. They have also criticized the international community for failing to enforce accountability or provide effective protection for civilians.

As Israeli violations continue and targeted assassinations persist, Palestinian officials say the situation underscores the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, the lifting of the siege on Gaza, and international intervention to stop what they describe as an ongoing campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people. (ILKHA)