The Yellow Line
Target Identified: Will Israel Eliminate Top Hamas Commander Al-Haddad Amid US Pressure?
The IDF faces pressure to eliminate the most senior remaining Hamas commander, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, who was previously shielded by captives, but ongoing US diplomatic efforts and a lack of international legitimacy are currently preventing an operation.
As pressure mounts from the United States to advance to Phase B of the agreement, which includes beginning reconstruction efforts even before all captives and the remains of the deceased are returned, the question of eliminating the remaining senior Hamas leadership is gaining urgency. Meanwhile, local armed factions, not the IDF, are currently the primary forces engaging Hamas terrorists on the ground.
The current most senior terrorist figure in the Gaza Strip is Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, the Commander of the Gaza City Brigade. He remains the direct commander of the military wing following the elimination of the organization's central leadership.
Al-Haddad: Protected by Captives
According to security sources, al-Haddad has survived several targeted elimination attempts. For the past year, he reportedly surrounded himself with Israeli captives, effectively using them as a "human shield." Consequently, the IDF and the Shin Bet avoided targeting him despite operational "mistakes" he made.
Today, while there are no known living captives remaining, IDF sources suggest that Israel is deeply constrained by the current ceasefire. With US Envoy Steve Witkoff scheduled to meet with senior Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya, the situation is complex: not only do the Americans acknowledge the organization's influence, but sources suggest there is a lack of international legitimacy for eliminating senior Hamas commanders in Gaza at this time.
The Fight on the Ground and American Pressure
Currently, the only forces actively fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza are local armed factions. These groups are reportedly working around the clock to expand their control, eliminate Hamas terrorists, and take over safe houses and tunnels used by the organization.
Meanwhile, the US understands that initiating reconstruction in areas under Hamas control (estimated at approximately 46% of the Gaza Strip) will be challenging. Therefore, Washington is pressuring Israel to begin reconstruction efforts in areas where the IDF maintains high operational control.
Israel’s security establishment is firmly against moving to Phase B without the return of all captives (three are still missing) and the complete disarmament and transfer of governance away from Hamas.
IDF Vows Readiness for Renewed War
Amidst this external pressure, the IDF Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, delivered a strong message, aimed more at the American side than the Palestinians, by defining the "Yellow Line" as a "line of encirclement and control."
Zamir stated that the IDF currently controls 54% of the territory without a Palestinian civilian population, highlighting the military and physical security buffer Israel has established while attempting to avoid civilian responsibility.
Crucially, Zamir made it clear that the IDF is ready to return to war and expand its area of operational control should political or operational conditions change. He stressed that the IDF remains committed to the government's objectives: preventing Hamas from continuing to rule Gaza and achieving the disarmament of the Strip.
"Even if it requires time, we will persist in the mission of dismantling Hamas and disarming the Strip, and we will achieve this through an agreement or through military means," Zamir added. The daily routine of IDF forces currently involves removing emerging threats along the "Yellow Line" and continuing to locate and destroy tunnels and terror infrastructure.