Israel Kills Senior Hamas Commander, Gaza War Re-ignites

Israel launched further airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday (29/09/2026), killing Izz al-Din Al-Beik, a figure identified as the head of Hamas’s armed wing in the Northern Gaza region.

Al-Beik’s death was confirmed by both Israeli and Palestinian officials, as reported by Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, stated that the Israeli military specifically targeted Al-Beik and successfully eliminated him.

According to Netanyahu and Katz, Al-Beik was involved in planning attacks and recruiting new members for Hamas.

Hamas also confirmed Al-Beik’s death due to the Israeli strike. Medical personnel reported that the attack hit an apartment building in the Nasr area of Gaza City around dawn. Local health officials noted that another victim subsequently died from injuries sustained during the strike.

Israel claims that Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks, which Israel considers a violation of the ceasefire agreement established in October. In recent weeks, Israel has increased its strikes against the group.

The Israeli military stated that at least 20 Hamas figures have been killed this month. Among them are individuals identified by Israel as senior commanders, those involved in the 7 October 2023 attacks, and those who previously held Israeli hostages.

Hamas has denied these allegations, stating that they are not preparing attacks or rebuilding their arsenal, while simultaneously accusing Israel of undermining the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire, agreed upon last year through US mediation, was intended to regulate the next phase of Gaza’s reconstruction. However, implementation has been slow as negotiators have yet to reach an agreement regarding the mechanism for Hamas’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

Amidst this deadlock, Israeli airstrikes continue to persist.

Gaza health officials reported that at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect. Meanwhile, the Israeli military stated that four of its soldiers have died during the same period.

Overall, Palestinian authorities state that more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The military operation began after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people.