Israel said it killed a top Hamas commander in Gaza after an explosive device detonated and wounded two soldiers in the territory’s south.

Hamas in a statement did not confirm the death of Raed Saad in the attack on Saturday.

It said a civilian vehicle had been struck outside Gaza City and asserted it was a violation of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.

Saad served as the Hamas official in charge of manufacturing and previously led the militant group’s operations division.

The Israeli statement described him as one of the architects of the October 7 2023 attack that sparked the war, and said that he had been “engaged in rebuilding the terrorist organisation” in a violation of the ceasefire.

The Israeli strike west of Gaza City killed four people, according to an Associated

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