Hamas' new leader says will only accept 'honorable deal': report
He assumed command of Hamas's military wing following the killing of Muhammad Sinwar in an airstrike by the 'Israeli' air force.
The 'Israeli' military spokesman Effie Defrin said Thursday that al-Haddad, believed to be in his mid-50s, is the new leader.
Officials indicate that al-Haddad played a role in planning the October 7, 2023 attack on 'Israel' and is a staunch opponent of efforts to dismantle Hamas.
His hardline stance suggests he could obstruct any deal requiring the release of all remaining captives before a complete end to the war in Gaza and a full 'Israeli' withdrawal.
According to a senior Middle Eastern intelligence official cited in a report by The New York Times, al-Haddad has recently said he will pursue either an "honorable deal" or a "war of liberation or a war of martyrdom."
Indirect talks between 'Israel' and Hamas have repeatedly stalled, primarily over the permanence of any cease-fire.
Hamas demands a lasting end to the war, while 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on dismantling the group's military and governing capabilities.
Al-Haddad is one of the few surviving commanders left from Hamas's high-level military council.
While 'Israel' has failed to kill al-Haddad, his eldest son and a close aide have reportedly been killed in the war.
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