Hamas commander among seven killed in latest Israeli strikes on Gaza

On Tuesday, Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, including a Hamas commander named Izz al-Din al Beik. The victims were confirmed by both the Hamas civil defence agency and the Israeli military. Al Beik was reportedly a "member of the General Military Council of the al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’s military wing) and commander of the Northern Brigade".

He had been in the operations room for Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the Gaza war. The Israeli military stated that al Beik directed Hamas operatives to carry out attacks against Israeli troops and civilians. In addition to al Beik, three individuals were killed and several others injured in two Israeli drone strikes in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza.

One person was also killed by Israeli gunfire in Deir al-Balah, located in the center of Gaza. Later that evening, another individual was killed and others injured in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City. The Israeli military said they would provide further details about some of the targets. Since the Gaza war began in response to Hamas's 2023 attack, Israeli forces have killed over 74,000 people, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Israeli forces have also killed more than 1,400 people in their ranks since a ceasefire was announced last October, as well as the death of one civilian contractor.