Hamas Warns Ceasefire at Risk After Israel Kills Senior Commander Raed Saed in Gaza Strike

Hamas Declares Israeli Strike on Commander Threatens Fragile Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya, issued a stark warning on Sunday, stating that Israel's recent assassination of senior commander Raed Saed in Gaza imperils the precarious truce in the besieged enclave. This high-profile killing, the most significant since a US-backed ceasefire took effect in October, has sparked widespread concerns about the future viability of the peace agreement.

Speaking in a televised address from Cairo, Al-Hayya officially confirmed Saed's death in an Israeli strike that occurred the day prior. Saed, described by Hamas sources as the second-in-command of its armed wing, was deemed by Israel as a principal architect of the devastating October 7, 2023 attacks that ignited the ongoing conflict.

Violation of Truce & Call for US Intervention

Al-Hayya unequivocally condemned the strike as a "continued Israeli violation" of the ceasefire agreement, directly linking it to the assassination of Saed and other Palestinian figures. He strongly urged international mediators, particularly highlighting the United States administration and President Donald Trump, to exert pressure on Israel and compel them to uphold their commitments under the existing truce.

The current ceasefire, a critical component of Trump's broader Gaza peace initiative, commenced on October 10. This initial phase involved a delicate exchange where Hamas released hostages in exchange for Israel freeing detained Palestinians, marking a fragile, albeit significant, pause in the two-year-long hostilities.

Debate Over International Stabilization Force

Beyond the immediate ceasefire concerns, Al-Hayya also addressed the proposed UN-authorised International Stabilization Force (ISF), a key element envisioned for the next phase of Trump's peace plan. He articulated Hamas's stance that the ISF's role must be strictly limited to maintaining the ceasefire and ensuring separation between the two sides along Gaza's borders. Crucially, he explicitly stated that the force should be precluded from any internal intervention or involvement in Gaza's domestic affairs.

In a related development, US officials informed Reuters that the US Central Command plans to host a conference in Doha on December 16. This significant gathering will bring together partner nations to strategize and plan the deployment of the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, underscoring the ongoing international effort to solidify peace and stability in the volatile region.