Israeli drone operator describes strike that killed top Hamas officer Ra’ad Sa’ad

The IDF and the Israel Security Agency said Sa’ad was among the last veteran senior Hamas commanders still operating in Gaza.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israeli drone operator described a fleeting strike opportunity that ended with the killing of Ra’ad Sa’ad, a senior Hamas commander, during an unplanned operation in southern Gaza that unfolded amid combat support for ground forces.

Capt. A., an Israel Defense Forces drone operator, said the encounter developed while his unit was providing aerial cover for Brigade 900 in the southern Gaza Strip. In an interview with Walla, he explained that Sa’ad had appeared in operational surveillance before but had not been designated for elimination at those times.

“He was in my crosshairs three times already, but not to execute the elimination, but as a target for intelligence collection,” he said.

According to the officer, the strike was driven by rapidly changing conditions rather than a prearranged mission.

“They directed us from the air while we were providing cover to Brigade 900 in the southern Gaza Strip. From there, we ultimately eliminated Ra’ad Sa’ad,” he said, adding that the narrow timing window and weather conditions increased the difficulty of the operation.

Familiarity with the terrain from sustained activity over the past two years helped enable the strike, he said.

Captain A. said that while all Hamas operatives are treated the same professionally, the emotional weight changes when a senior figure is identified.

“From a professional perspective, there is no difference between a minor terrorist or the most senior terrorist, but when a senior terrorist comes into consideration, the blood is warm,” he said. “You’re sharper. You feel different.”

He described participation in the strike as personally significant. “It was a great privilege. Another small step to complete the circle,” he said. “We do what we can against the people who don’t deserve to be with us. Bad people. We have to remember why, to remember what they did. It’s a great privilege to participate.”

The IDF and the Israel Security Agency said Sa’ad was among the last veteran senior Hamas commanders still operating in Gaza. In a joint statement, the agencies said he had played a central role in Hamas’s military leadership in recent months and was directly responsible for repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli officials said Sa’ad was also one of the planners of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, invasion and massacre in southern Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said they ordered the strike after Hamas activated an explosive device earlier Saturday that wounded two IDF reserve soldiers in southern Gaza.

The two leaders said Sa’ad had been working to rebuild Hamas’s attack capabilities in violation of the ceasefire. “Instead of advancing demilitarization, he was working to rearm for acts of terror,” they said, warning that anyone who harms Israeli soldiers will be pursued in Gaza and beyond.