Israeli Airstrike in Gaza City Kills Senior Hamas Commander

GAZA CITY — Israel killed Izz al-Din al-Beik, the head of Hamas’s armed wing in the northern Gaza Strip, in an airstrike early Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed, the latest in a series of targeted strikes despite a US-brokered ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the military had targeted al-Beik, describing him as a commander involved in planning attacks and recruiting militants. Medics said the strike hit an apartment building in Gaza City’s Nasr neighbourhood around dawn. Hamas confirmed al-Beik’s death and said he had helped lead the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

A second person later died from wounds sustained in the strike, health officials said, and a later strike near a medical clinic in the Jabalia refugee camp killed one more person, taking the day’s death toll to at least three, according to medics. The military said it had targeted a militant in the Jabalia strike.

Israel says Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of the October ceasefire, and has stepped up strikes on the group in recent weeks. The Israeli military says it has killed at least 20 Hamas figures this month. Hamas denies trying to rebuild its arsenal and accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza deal.

According to Gaza health officials, at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire took effect, while the Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have died.

Sources:

• Reuters — Israel kills senior Hamas commander in Gaza, officials say
• TBS News — Israel kills senior Hamas commander in Gaza strike