ALBAWABA - Ezzedine al-Haddad, the newly appointed head of Hamas' military arm, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, presents a fresh obstacle to peace efforts in Gaza. The New York Times said that al-Haddad's tough approach would make it more difficult for U.S.-led mediation efforts to end the conflict.
According to reports, al-Haddad, who took over for Mohammed al-Sinwar after he was killed in an Israeli assault in May, is adamant that no deal would be approved until Israel completely leaves Gaza and ceases all military activity there. According to intelligence sources the publication cited, al-Haddad views the Chechen resistance's protracted struggle against Russian forces as a model for Hamas and bases his strategy on it.
Al-Haddad is adamantly against Israeli efforts to overthrow Hamas in Gaza, according to three Israeli defense sources and a senior Middle Eastern intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. They contend that unless Israel totally withdraws its military presence, this resistance could put a halt to talks for the release of hostages.
Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer and Palestinian relations specialist, stated that he "has the same red lines as his predecessors."
It has been claimed in recent weeks that al-Haddad, who is thought to be stationed in Gaza City, has stated that he will only accept what he refers to as a “honorable deal” to end the war. He promised that if not, the struggle would go on as a "war of liberation or martyrdom."
The Trump administration has increased diplomatic efforts in the last week, despite the fact that indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have frequently failed. A new plan supported by the United States calls for a 60-day pause while talks for a longer-term truce are ongoing.
In response, Hamas said in a statement released early Friday that it is eager to put an end to the conflict and that it is in consultation with Palestinian factions over the terms of the proposed truce.
"We are consulting with the Palestinian factions on the most recent offer from mediators in order to put an end to the Zionist aggression and guarantee the uninterrupted delivery of aid," the statement said. The panel also stated that after those deliberations were over, it would make a final decision.
The longevity of any possible truce continues to be the primary obstacle in the negotiations. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues that any truce must be preceded by the removal of Hamas's military and political structures, Hamas insists on a complete and definitive end to the fighting.
Al-Haddad, also known by his alias "Abu Sohaib," is said to be among the senior leaders who survived the October 7 strikes the longest. His close ally Raed Saad, another influential member of Hamas's military council, may also still be alive, according to intelligence reports.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated in late May that Israel had planned to eliminate al-Haddad. According to documents that the Israeli forces in Gaza allegedly recovered, al-Haddad was instrumental in organizing the October attack.
