Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel is close to completing one of its main war goals in Gaza: eliminating the people who planned the October 7 attacks that triggered the current conflict. His statement followed Israel’s announcement that it had killed Ezzedine Al-Haddad, a senior Hamas commander, in an airstrike over the weekend. Israel has been systematically targeting Hamas’s military and political leadership since the war began, framing the campaign as necessary to dismantle the group’s ability to carry out future attacks. The military says Al-Haddad played a key role in organizing the October 7 assault, which killed 1,200 people and saw 240 taken hostage in Israel. Hamas has not confirmed his death but typically acknowledges leadership losses after days or weeks, often through official statements or allied media outlets. Israeli officials, including military spokespeople, have repeatedly claimed high-profile strikes on Hamas leaders, describing them as significant blows to the group’s command structure. These assertions are nearly impossible to independently verify in real time, given Hamas’s control over Gaza and the ongoing fighting. But the Israeli military has released drone footage and intelligence summaries in some cases, including intercepted communications it says prove Al-Haddad’s involvement in planning attacks. The claims also come as Israel faces growing international pressure to scale back its military operation, with humanitarian groups warning of catastrophic conditions in Gaza after six months of bombardment and ground operations. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since October 7, according to Gaza health officials, a figure Israel disputes by questioning the source and methodology of the counts. Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, remains a dominant force in the territory despite Israel’s efforts to degrade its capabilities. The group still controls key areas and continues to launch rockets into Israel, though at a reduced rate compared to the early months of the war. Israel’s targeting of senior commanders is part of a broader strategy to weaken Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and disrupt its ability to govern. The U.S. and other allies have repeatedly urged Israel to avoid killing civilians while pursuing its military objectives, but the scale of the destruction in Gaza suggests those calls have had limited impact. Israel has defended its operations as necessary to dismantle Hamas and prevent a repeat of October 7, but critics argue the campaign has caused disproportionate harm to Palestinian civilians and infrastructure. The war began after Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, which included mass killings, sexual violence, and the taking of hostages. Israel responded with a massive military campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas and secure the release of the hostages. The fighting has since expanded into a prolonged conflict with no clear end in sight, despite intermittent ceasefire talks and international mediation efforts. The death of Al-Haddad, if confirmed, would mark another significant loss for Hamas, but the group has shown resilience in the past by promoting mid-level commanders into leadership roles. Israel’s claims about targeting planners also raise questions about how it identifies and verifies the roles of those killed, especially in a densely populated and heavily bombed urban environment like Gaza. The military’s use of drone strikes and intelligence-driven operations has been a central feature of its campaign, but it has also led to high civilian casualties, including in densely populated areas like Rafah and Khan Younis. The international community remains deeply divided over the conflict, with some countries calling for an immediate ceasefire and others supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with food, water, and medical supplies running dangerously low in many areas. As Israel presses its campaign against Hamas’s leadership, the broader question remains: what happens if it succeeds in dismantling the group’s command structure? History suggests Hamas will adapt, as it has done repeatedly since its founding in 1987, finding new ways to survive and even thrive despite military setbacks.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: France 24
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 15:13 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #france24 · #world-news · #europe · #war · #conflict · #most

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on France 24 →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at France 24. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Israel se aproxima de eliminar os principais responsáveis pelo massacre de 7 de outubro, mas a sombra da vingança ainda paira sobre Gaza.

O primeiro-ministro israelense, Benjamin Netanyahu, anunciou que as Forças de Defesa de Israel (IDF) estão prestes a concluir a missão de eliminar os principais planejadores dos ataques do Hamas em 7 de outubro, que deixaram cerca de 1.200 mortos e resultaram na captura de mais de 200 reféns. Segundo relatos, um alto comandante do grupo extremista, identificado como Muhammad Abu Shabana, foi morto em um ataque aéreo na cidade de Khan Younis, no sul de Gaza. A campanha, que já dura mais de sete meses, tem como foco não apenas a eliminação de alvos militares, mas também a desarticulação da estrutura de comando do Hamas, um objetivo que o governo israelense classifica como prioritário para garantir a segurança do país.

Para o público brasileiro e lusófono, a notícia reforça a complexidade do conflito no Oriente Médio, especialmente em um momento em que a comunidade internacional debate os limites da resposta israelense e as consequências humanitárias da guerra em Gaza. O Brasil, que mantém relações históricas com ambos os lados do conflito, tem sido cobrado por uma postura mais ativa na mediação, embora até agora tenha se limitado a declarações cautelosas. Enquanto isso, a população palestina segue sofrendo com a escassez de alimentos, medicamentos e abrigos, em meio a um cenário de destruição generalizada que já soma mais de 35 mil mortos, segundo dados do Ministério da Saúde de Gaza.

A próxima etapa do conflito deve ser marcada por um endurecimento das operações israelenses, com possíveis incursões terrestres em Rafah, ou até mesmo uma pausa temporária em negociações de cessar-fogo — o que poderia agravar ainda mais a crise humanitária.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Israel avanza en su ofensiva contra Hamás al anunciar la eliminación de la mayoría de los planificadores de los ataques del 7 de octubre, un golpe estratégico que refuerza su narrativa de venganza y disuasión. Según fuentes israelíes, esta operación, que incluye ataques aéreos como el que costó la vida a un alto mando de Hamás, marca un hito en su campaña militar en Gaza, aunque deja interrogantes sobre el costo humano y político de una estrategia basada en la fuerza.

El anuncio refleja la determinación de Israel por desmantelar la estructura de mando de Hamás, pero también subraya los riesgos de una escalada sin un horizonte político claro. Para los lectores hispanohablantes, el conflicto en Oriente Medio sigue siendo un tema complejo, donde la información se mezcla con posturas ideológicas y geopolíticas. Mientras Israel celebra estos avances, la comunidad internacional observa con preocupación el impacto humanitario en Gaza, donde miles de civiles pagan las consecuencias de una guerra que parece prolongarse sin soluciones a la vista.