Ezzedin al-Haddad, a low-profile veteran known as the “Ghost of al-Qassam,” has assumed command of Hamas in Gaza, becoming the group’s third leader in just seven months amid the ongoing war with Israel.

A Seasoned Fighter in a Diminished War Machine

Al-Haddad, 55, was appointed following the mid-May death of Mohammed Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leadership in tunnels beneath Khan Younis. The transition comes as Hamas’s leadership has been steadily decimated since the outbreak of war over 600 days ago. Of the 18 top figures on its military council, only a handful are thought to still be alive.

Known for his role in orchestrating the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and his management of Israeli hostages, al-Haddad now leads a group facing dire shortages of weapons, equipment, and funding. Despite this, he is believed to command thousands of new fighters, many minimally trained and under-equipped, according to Arab and Israeli intelligence sources.

Al-Haddad’s leadership style appears more pragmatic than that of the Sinwar brothers. He pushed for a January 2025 deal that saw the release of hostages and a temporary cease-fire, and has reportedly shown openness to further negotiations involving disarmament—an idea previously opposed by his predecessors.

According to a former hostage, al-Haddad met with captives multiple times, often speaking in Hebrew and showing photos of other hostages. His calm demeanor reportedly shifted after the death of one of his sons earlier this year.

While Israeli estimates claim Hamas has lost up to 20,000 of its original 35,000 fighters, officials believe around 25,000 remain, including members of other armed factions in Gaza. The group’s once-extensive rocket stockpile has been reduced to about 15% of its original capacity.

Israel’s Advance and Hamas’s Resilience

Israel says it now controls about 50% of Gaza and aims to increase that to 75% by July. However, officials concede that most of Hamas’s underground infrastructure remains intact, and the group continues to convert unexploded ordnance into makeshift bombs for ambushes.

Recent attacks have demonstrated Hamas’s continued capacity to inflict casualties: three Israeli soldiers were killed in early June by a roadside bomb in an area deemed secure; days later, another four died in a building rigged with explosives.

“They don’t need tens of thousands of weapons,” noted former Israeli intelligence officer Miri Eisin. “They just need to kill a soldier a day.”

Aid, Control, and the Struggle for Survival

Hamas remains Gaza’s most powerful armed force, despite losing control in areas like Rafah and facing internal unrest. Israel’s new aid distribution plan aims to bypass Hamas but has led to chaos and deadly crossings by civilians seeking supplies.

Hamas’s ability to exploit and tax humanitarian aid has diminished. One internal document recovered by Israeli forces shows Hamas decreased the aid share allocated to its fighters from 25% to 7% by April 2024, for unclear reasons. Nonetheless, Israeli officials say the group made hundreds of millions in the war’s first year through resales, contraband, and protection rackets.

Looking Ahead: A Calculated Survivor

Al-Haddad’s future course remains uncertain. Though considered more flexible than the Sinwars, he shares the strategic position that all hostages should not be released without an Israeli withdrawal and a formal end to the war.

“Some guards were better than others,” the former hostage told him during captivity. Al-Haddad simply replied, “This is life. There are good people, and there are bad people.”