Hamas Appoints New Gaza Leader as Cease-Fire Talks Hang in the Balance

As indirect cease-fire negotiations stall, the rise of Izz al-Din al-Haddad as Hamas's new military leader in Gaza signals a hardening stance by the group, complicating U.S.-backed efforts to pause the war and secure the release of hostages.

New Commander, Same Red Lines

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a veteran Hamas commander from Gaza City, has taken over the group’s military leadership following the death of Muhammad Sinwar. According to Middle Eastern and Israeli intelligence officials, al-Haddad helped orchestrate the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which marked the beginning of the ongoing war.

Known internally as Abu Suheib, al-Haddad has made it clear he will not consider any deal that doesn’t include a permanent cease-fire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. “He has the same red lines as the people before him,” said Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer.

In a recent interview aired by Al Jazeera, al-Haddad declared: “The leadership of the occupation, supported by America and the West, will have to submit to our just demands.”

Cease-Fire Talks in Limbo

The Trump administration has proposed a new plan starting with a 60-day cessation of hostilities. Hamas leaders are reportedly deliberating the terms. Al-Haddad, however, has drawn a hard line, demanding not only an end to the war and troop withdrawal, but also the release of Palestinian prisoners, reconstruction of Gaza, and the lifting of border restrictions.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that any agreement must begin with the dismantling of Hamas’s military and political infrastructure.

Heavy Toll on Both Sides

Since the start of the war, more than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Israel's campaign has devastated urban areas and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The October 7 assault by Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel and led to roughly 250 hostage takings. Al-Haddad is reportedly one of the few remaining leaders from Hamas’s military council on that day and is believed to have spent time with hostages in northern Gaza.

Targeted by Israel, Inspired by Chechnya

Al-Haddad's close associates—including his son Suheib and right-hand man Mahmoud Abu Hiseira—have been killed. In late May, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to eliminate al-Haddad and Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator in Qatar.

Intelligence officials say al-Haddad draws inspiration from the Chechen resistance to Russian rule in the 1990s, viewing Gaza’s struggle through a similar lens of long-term insurgency.