An Israeli airstrike killed Izz al-Din Al-Beik, head of Hamas’ armed wing in the northern Gaza Strip, in Gaza City on Tuesday, September 29, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Medics said the strike hit an apartment building in the Nasr neighbourhood around dawn. Another person later died from their wounds. Health officials confirmed the death.
The Strike
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military targeted and killed Beik. They said he had helped plan attacks and recruit militants. Hamas confirmed that Beik died in the strike.
The Israeli military says it has killed at least 20 Hamas figures this month. It identified some as senior commanders, participants in the October 7, 2023, attacks, or people who held Israeli hostages. Israeli and Palestinian officials, medics and health officials provided the account of the latest strike.
Israel says Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of an October ceasefire. In recent weeks, Israel has stepped up strikes on the group. Hamas denies trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal, and accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza deal.
Ceasefire and Continued Strikes
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed last year calls for Gaza’s eventual reconstruction. Little progress has been made. Negotiators haven't agreed on terms for Hamas to disarm or for Israel to withdraw its troops, while Israeli airstrikes continue.
Reconstruction remains part of an agreement whose other terms negotiators haven't resolved. The latest Israeli strike took place while the ceasefire was in effect, according to the account of the attack and officials’ statements. Israel says Hamas is violating the ceasefire; Hamas denies trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal and says Israel is undermining the deal.
Deaths in Gaza
At least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza health officials say. The Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed during that period.
Palestinian authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023. Palestinian authorities and Gaza health officials provided those figures; the Israeli military gave the number of its soldiers killed.
Beik died in the latest strike. Another person later died from their wounds, according to Hamas and health officials. Medics located the strike at an apartment building in Gaza City’s Nasr neighbourhood. Israeli officials said the military targeted Beik over alleged involvement in planning attacks and recruiting militants. Hamas confirmed his death and denies Israel’s claim that it is rebuilding its arsenal or trying to carry out attacks.