An Israeli airstrike has killed Izz al-Din Al-Beik, the head of Hamas’ armed wing in northern Gaza, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military targeted and killed Beik, whom they accused of helping plan attacks and recruit militants.
Hamas confirmed Beik’s death, saying he was killed in the Israeli strike.
Medics said the attack hit an apartment building in Gaza City’s Nasr neighbourhood around dawn on Tuesday. Health officials said another person later died from injuries sustained in the strike.
Israel has intensified attacks on Hamas in recent weeks, saying the group has been rearming and carrying out attacks in violation of an October ceasefire.
The Israeli military said it had killed at least 20 Hamas figures this month, including people it identified as senior commanders and others linked to the October 7, 2023 attacks or the holding of Israeli hostages.
Hamas has denied attempting to launch attacks or rebuild its weapons arsenal and accused Israel of undermining the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The US-brokered ceasefire reached last year called for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but negotiations have made little progress over Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal of troops.
Israeli airstrikes have continued despite the ceasefire.
Gaza health officials said at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, while the Israeli military said four Israeli soldiers have died during the same period.
Palestinian authorities said more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023.
