Israel News
Israel Confirms Killing of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade Commander
Izz al-Din Bikh, Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade commander, was killed after evading previous targeting attempts. According to newly released details, he planned kidnappings and recruited and trained new operatives for the organization.
(Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)(Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
The IDF and the Shin Bet confirmed today (Tuesday) that Izz al-Din Bikh, commander of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade in its military wing, was killed overnight in a strike in northern Gaza. Bikh took over the role after the killing of Ahmed Ghandour and had previously served as the brigade’s intelligence officer.
Details released about the operation indicate that Bikh had previously managed to evade several targeted-killing attempts, including an attempt on his life about four months ago. Overnight, he was killed in his bed while asleep. To prevent him from escaping again, the Air Force bombed every room in the building where he was staying.
Bikh was involved in planning kidnapping attacks against IDF soldiers, as well as recruiting and training new operatives for Hamas’s military wing. According to the IDF and the Shin Bet, he was responsible for the brigade’s terrorist activity and for directing its operatives in advancing and carrying out terror plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians. At the same time, he worked to rebuild the brigade’s fighting force, which suffered severe damage during the war.
Security officials said Bikh posed an immediate threat and was killed in a precise strike. They also said that Southern Command forces are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue operating to remove immediate threats.
Even before the official confirmation, Palestinians reported that he had been killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said: "We commend the IDF and the Shin Bet for their determined action against Hamas commanders and its terrorists." In their words, "We will continue to hunt down and pursue all of the organization’s terrorists, from its commanders to its last operative, wherever they hide, until Hamas no longer exists in Gaza."
Earlier this week, the IDF and the Shin Bet announced the killing of Muhammad Hamad Muhammad Ghabayin, a commander in Hamas’s military wing, in an airstrike in northern Gaza last Tuesday. According to their statement, during the war, he was involved in holding nine hostages captive: Ziv Berman, Eitan Mor, Liri Albag, Agam Berger, Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Omri Miran, Keith Siegel, and Alon Ohel.
