Hamas Warns Israel Killing Senior Commander Risks Gaza Ceasefire

CAIRO/GAZA CITY (Journos News) – Hamas has warned that Israel’s killing of a senior military commander could undermine the fragile Gaza ceasefire, as thousands gathered for funeral processions in Gaza City. The group’s chief negotiator called on the United States to press Israel to adhere to the terms of the truce brokered earlier this year.

Ceasefire Stability Questioned After Assassination

Hamas said on Sunday that Israel’s assassination of a senior commander threatens the viability of the ceasefire that halted weeks of intense fighting in Gaza. The warning came as the militant group’s chief negotiator accused Israel of repeated violations of the truce and appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene.

In a televised address, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader who lives in exile, said the killing risked unraveling the agreement reached in October under U.S.-backed mediation. He described the assassination as the most serious breach since the ceasefire came into effect.

According to Hayya, the continued targeting of Hamas figures, including the latest strike, undermines confidence in the deal and raises questions about whether it can be sustained.

Thousands Attend Funeral in Gaza City

Thousands of Hamas supporters gathered in central Gaza City on Sunday for the funeral of Raed Saed, the commander killed alongside three associates in an Israeli strike a day earlier. The procession marked one of the largest public demonstrations by Hamas since the ceasefire began.

Mourners carried coffins draped in green Hamas flags and chanted religious slogans as the bodies were moved through the streets. The funeral served both as a public show of mourning and a display of the group’s continued presence in Gaza, particularly in the densely populated western areas of the enclave.

Hamas confirmed Saed’s death during the ceremony, identifying him as a senior figure within its armed wing. Israeli officials have described him as a key military planner.

Hamas Leadership Responds to Killing

In his address, Hayya said the assassination of Saed represented a dangerous escalation at a sensitive moment. He urged mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, to increase pressure on Israel to comply with the ceasefire framework.

He singled out Washington as the primary guarantor of the agreement, calling on the U.S. administration to ensure Israel honors its commitments. Hayya warned that without external pressure, the truce could collapse.

Later on Sunday, Hamas’s armed wing said it had already appointed a replacement for Saed. The group said Saed had overseen military manufacturing operations and added that his death would not alter its strategic direction.

Israel and Hamas Remain Deeply Divided

Israel has said Saed played a central role in planning the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the current conflict. That assault led to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which displaced much of the enclave’s population and caused widespread destruction.

Hamas sources have described Saed as the second-in-command of the group’s armed wing, reporting to Izzeldeen Al-Hadad. Hamas has not publicly named an overall leader since Israel killed the group’s former head, Yehya Al-Sinwar, in 2024.

Since then, Hamas has operated under a five-member leadership council, of which Hayya is a member. The structure reflects both the losses the group has suffered and its attempt to maintain continuity amid ongoing Israeli operations.

Territorial Control and Ceasefire Gaps

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces remain in control of the depopulated eastern half of Gaza, according to Hamas and humanitarian agencies. Hamas has reasserted control in the western half, where most of Gaza’s more than two million residents now live among extensive damage.

The ceasefire agreement left several major issues unresolved. Talks on next steps have stalled, with Israel demanding that Hamas disarm and be excluded from any future governance of Gaza.

Hamas has rejected those conditions, insisting it will not give up its weapons and calling for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

International Stabilization Force Still Unsettled

Under the ceasefire framework, a United Nations–authorized International Stabilization Force is meant to help maintain security. However, disagreements remain over its mandate and deployment.

Hayya said the force should operate only along Gaza’s borders and not inside the territory itself. Israel has not publicly endorsed that position.

U.S. officials told Reuters that U.S. Central Command will host a conference in Doha on December 16 with partner nations to discuss plans for the force. The meeting is expected to address troop contributions, rules of engagement, and coordination with existing authorities.

Internal Violence Highlights Fragile Security

Separately, violence continued inside Gaza despite the ceasefire. In the central Gaza Strip, gunmen shot dead Ahmed Zamzam, a senior officer in a Hamas-run internal security service tasked with countering alleged collaboration with Israel.

The Gaza Interior Ministry accused the attackers of acting on Israeli orders and said one suspect had been detained. It described the killing as part of a broader effort to destabilize internal security.

Ghassan Duhine, leader of the Popular Forces, an anti-Hamas group operating in Israeli-controlled areas, claimed responsibility. He described the killing as an act of revenge.

Hamas has labeled such groups as collaborators, while the groups deny the charge and accuse Hamas of responsibility for Gaza’s destruction. Reuters said it could not independently verify the circumstances of the attack. The Israeli military declined to comment.

Ceasefire Faces Mounting Pressure

The killing of Saed and the continued internal violence underscore the fragility of the ceasefire. While large-scale fighting has paused, deep political, military, and territorial disputes remain unresolved.

With negotiations stalled and trust eroding, analysts say the truce now depends heavily on sustained international mediation and enforcement. Whether external pressure can prevent a renewed escalation remains uncertain.

For now, both sides appear entrenched, raising fears that the ceasefire may prove temporary rather than a foundation for lasting stability.