Destroyed and damaged buildings in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, Sept. 23, 2026. (Credit: Amir Cohen/ Reuters)
BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed Ezzeddine al-Beik, head of the Hamas armed wing in northern Gaza, on Tuesday, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military had targeted and killed the Palestinian military official, whom they accused of participating in the planning of attacks and recruiting militants. Doctors and Hamas sources confirmed Beik’s death in the Israeli strike, which hit a residential building at dawn in the Nasr neighborhood of Gaza.
The Israeli military said it carried out an attack last night with the Shin Bet in northern Gaza and "eliminated Ezzeddine al-Beik, commander of the northern Gaza brigade, because he "posed an immediate threat to Israeli forces and citizens."
"Ezzeddine al-Beik took over his duties after Ahmad al-Ghandour was eliminated, having previously served as an intelligence officer in the brigade. As part of his duties, he was responsible for managing and directing terrorist activities to advance plans and carry them out against Israeli forces. He also worked to rebuild the brigade, which had suffered a heavy blow during the war," Israeli military Arabic spokesperson Ella Waweya said on X.
