GAZA/JERUSALEM, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a senior commander in the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, was confirmed as preparations for his funeral began on Saturday.
Al-Haddad was killed by an Israeli airstrike on Friday evening.
Palestinian sources said the funeral prayer for al-Haddad would be held at a mosque in Gaza City, before his burial.
The sources added that al-Haddad's wife and daughter, who were killed with him in the Israeli airstrike, would also be buried during the funeral procession.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military and the domestic security agency Shin Bet confirmed in a joint statement on Saturday that al-Haddad was killed in the Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Friday.
They said al-Haddad was one of the planners of the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
In a separate statement, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said the military will continue to "hold accountable everyone who took part" in the 2023 Hamas attack. "We will not relent until we reach them all," he said.
On Friday, Palestinian medical sources reported that at least 10 people were killed and at least 50 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building and a vehicle in Gaza City.
Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, citing a senior security official, said the strike was "successful," and al-Haddad was likely killed.
Later on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Israeli military struck al-Haddad, but did not specify whether he was hit.
Al-Haddad, known by the nickname "Ghost of al-Qassam," is considered by Israel to be one of the most wanted figures. He had survived several previous assassination attempts, according to Israeli media. ■
