Testimonies of detainees held by the occupation reveal details of their meetings with 'Gaza Ghost' Izz al-Din al-Haddad

The Hebrew newspaper 'Yedioth Ahronoth' published a detailed report containing new testimonies from former detainees held by the resistance in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the personality of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander of the Gaza Brigade in the Al-Qassam Brigades. The detainees, who were released in previous deals, stated that Al-Haddad is one of the most prominent leaders they dealt with directly, describing him as an influential figure highly sought after by the occupation's security agencies.

The testimonies given by 'Gali', 'Ziv', and 'Emily' confirmed that the military commander, nicknamed 'Al-Hajj', speaks Hebrew fluently, which enabled him to communicate with them without an intermediary. They indicated that Al-Haddad deliberately used his linguistic skills to psychologically influence them and discuss the details of military operations carried out by the resistance in the field.

In one of the direct confrontations, the detainees quoted Al-Haddad as boasting about the October 7 operation: 'You thought our attack would come from underground through tunnels, but we surprised you from above and bypassed the border wall.' These statements, according to the detainees, reflect the pride that Al-Qassam leaders showed in the strategic success they achieved in breaking the occupation's security system.

The detainee 'Ziv' recounted details of his meeting with Al-Haddad in various locations within the Strip, where the military commander was keen to clearly reveal his identity to them. On one occasion, Al-Haddad approached him and asked him in Hebrew if he knew who he was talking to, before introducing himself as the commander of the Gaza Brigade, merely using the title 'Al-Hajj' given to him by his companions.

The testimonies also included references to geographical deception attempts that Al-Haddad practiced with the detainees to maintain the secrecy of locations. When one of the detainees thought he was in Khan Younis, Al-Haddad responded with a sarcastic smile, assuring him that he was still in the heart of Gaza City, which reflects the field control of military commanders despite intense bombardment.

For his part, the detainee 'Gali' mentioned that he met Al-Haddad at least four times, and on one of these occasions, he was accompanied by high-ranking leaders from the Hamas movement. Gali described how Al-Haddad used a laptop to display photos of other detainees, as part of an information gathering process or to exert psychological pressure to find out the fate of some soldiers.

'Gali' indicated that Al-Haddad showed him photos of soldier 'Itay Chen' and spoke extensively about the training that preceded the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' operation and how the separation fence was breached. The detainee confirmed that all these meetings were documented with special cameras belonging to the resistance, indicating precise security and media documentation of all stages of detention.

In an incident described as 'strange', the detainees spoke about being suddenly moved from the darkness of the tunnels to the Gaza seashore under the sun. They described that moment as shocking to their sight after a long period of living underground, where they were transported in vehicles equipped with cameras that recorded their reactions to the external environment.

The detainees considered the purpose of the 'seashore' tour to be purely propaganda, as Hamas sought to demonstrate its ability to move freely in the Strip despite the occupation's aerial surveillance. The movement also aimed to convey a message that it treats detainees humanely and allows them to see the sun and live a semi-normal life in exceptional circumstances.

For her part, the detainee 'Emily' stated that the title 'Al-Hajj', which everyone calls Izz al-Din al-Haddad, came after he performed the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. She confirmed that Al-Haddad meticulously followed everything published in the occupation's media, as he listened daily to the occupation army radio 'Gali Tzahal' and the Hebrew-speaking 'Reshet Bet' radio.

'Emily' explained that Al-Haddad's ability for strategic follow-up was astonishing, as he analyzed Hebrew news as soon as it was released and discussed war developments with the detainees. She added that his proficiency in Hebrew was very high, with a slight accent that did not affect the clarity of his speech or his understanding of complex military and political terms.

The testimonies mentioned that Al-Haddad spent long periods with the female detainees to follow up on their daily affairs and ensure their basic needs were met, which aligns with previous reports about the role of brigade commanders in direct supervision of the detainee file. These details confirm that the Al-Qassam leadership managed the file at high leadership levels to ensure maximum political and security gains.

These leaks come at a time when the occupation army continues its attempts to reach Izz al-Din al-Haddad, whom the Hebrew media calls 'the Ghost' due to the repeated failure of assassination attempts. These testimonies reveal a different picture from what the occupation promotes about the destruction of the Al-Qassam Brigades' leadership structure in the northern and central Gaza Strip.

You thought we would come to you from below through tunnels, but we came to you from above... from the wall above ground.