Report: Israel Targets Hamas Commander in Strikes on Gaza

Facts

• The Israel Defense Forces reportedly targeted the head of Hamas operations, Raad Saad, in airstrikes on two alleged Hamas military sites in Gaza City on Saturday.¹
• Saad is said to be one of the Hamas leaders who commanded the war from the group's tunnel system, along with Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Marwan Issa. It's unclear whether he survived the attack.²
• Gaza authorities reported that these latest Israeli strikes hit a residential neighborhood in the Shati refugee camp and the Tuffah neighborhood, killing at least 42 people.³
• This comes as the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that the structure of its office in Rafah was damaged in a heavy strike on Friday that allegedly killed at least 22 people.⁴
• Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israelis joined the weekly anti-government demonstrations across the country this Saturday to call for early elections and a hostage release deal. At least three protesters were arrested in Tel Aviv.⁵
• On Friday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that his group is open to any initiative that ensures a permanent cease-fire, the full withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Strip, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and reconstruction and aid.⁶

Sources: ¹Timesofisrael, ²Ynetnews, ³Al Jazeera, ⁴Washington Post, ⁵Haaretz.com and ⁶AA.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and the Biden admin.'s red lines are clear. Netanyahu must be willing to work with the US and its allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Hamas simply cannot stay in power in Gaza, and Israel must continue fighting the good fight. Indeed, if Israel does not destroy Hamas, the group will immediately begin planning the next Oct. 7 terrorist attack. Though there are pressures at home and abroad to end the war prematurely, Israel must get the hostages back and eliminate Hamas.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It should be clear after nine months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. Even the military is now admitting that it is not capable of defeating Hamas, yet Israel's political leadership refuses to end this genocidal campaign. The US must force Israel to finally stop.

Predictions