Izz al-Din al-Haddad, also known by aliases such as "Abu Suhaib" and "the Ghost of the al-Qassam Brigades," is a senior Palestinian terrorist and a key figure in Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Al-Haddad joined Hamas at its founding in 1987 and has since climbed the ranks of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas. He began as a company-level commander, later leading a battalion, and eventually commanded six battalions, including a special forces unit, before his appointment as commander of the Gaza Brigade in May 2022 after the assassination of Bassem Issa in 2021.
Since November 2023, following the killing of Ahmed al-Ghandour, al-Haddad has served as the acting commander of the northern Gaza brigade. By June 2024, he was appointed chief military commander for northern Gaza, overseeing two regional commands and up to 14 battalions.
After the reported death of Mohammed Sinwar on May 13, 2025, in an Israeli airstrike, al-Haddad emerged as the leader of Hamas’s military operations across the Gaza Strip, with authority over hostages, military strategy, and ceasefire negotiations.
Al-Haddad is credited with partially rebuilding Hamas’s military and civilian infrastructure in northern Gaza, including managing the Netzarim corridor and overseeing hostage transfers, such as the release of three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on January 19, 2025.
He is also a senior figure in al-Majd, Hamas’s internal counterintelligence unit, tasked with identifying collaborators with Israel, a role that deepened his ties with former leader Yahya Sinwar.
Involvement in October 7, 2023, Attacks
- Planning and Execution: Al-Haddad played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on Israel. The night before, he convened a secret meeting with senior commanders, distributing written orders outlining objectives, including the mass abduction of Israeli soldiers, real-time documentation of the assault, and capturing border communities. He directly commanded the attack on the Nahal Oz military base, where over 60 soldiers and 15 civilians were killed, and several hostages were taken.
- Claims in Interview: In a January 2025 Al Jazeera documentary, al-Haddad claimed Hamas launched the attack after allegedly uncovering an Israeli military plan for a large-scale Gaza operation, based on intelligence from breached Unit 8200 servers. This claim has never been verified.
Al-Haddad has survived at least six Israeli assassination attempts since 2008, with airstrikes targeting his residence in 2008, 2012, 2021, and 2023, and three additional attempts since the onset of the current war. His cautious approach, frequently changing locations, limiting communication, and relying on a tight inner circle, has earned him the nickname “the Ghost of the al-Qassam Brigades.”
Israel placed a $750,000 bounty on him in November 2023 for information leading to his capture or death. His eldest son, Suhaib, and grandson were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on January 17, 2025, and his second son was killed in April 2025. These losses have heightened his personal stakes in the conflict.
Al-Haddad avoids public appearances and media exposure, maintaining a low profile to evade Israeli intelligence. His guarded nature contrasts with his significant operational influence, making him a shadowy but pivotal figure in Hamas’s hierarchy.
