Israel Kills Senior Commander of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades in Airstrike on Gaza

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The Israeli army announced on Tuesday the killing of Izz al-Din al-Bayek, the commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building in Gaza City, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Hamas confirmed the death of al-Bayek in the strike, while paramedics said the attack targeted a residential building in the al-Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City early Tuesday. Health sector officials also reported that another person died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli army killed al-Bayek due to his involvement in planning attacks and recruiting fighters, according to the Israeli narrative.

Israel has intensified its attacks on Hamas in recent weeks, claiming that the group is working to rearm itself and launch attacks, in violation of the ceasefire reached in October of last year.

The Israeli army stated that it killed at least 20 Hamas members during September, including individuals described as senior leaders, and others who were said to have participated in the attacks on October 7, 2023, or held Israeli hostages.

In contrast, Hamas denies attempting to launch attacks or rebuild its arsenal, accusing Israel of undermining the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire agreement, reached last year with American mediation, stipulates the eventual reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. However, limited progress has been made in implementing the subsequent phases of the agreement, amid disputes over the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continued.

Health officials in Gaza reported that at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect, while the Israeli army stated that four of its soldiers were killed during the same period.

According to Palestinian authorities, the number of deaths resulting from the Israeli war on Gaza has exceeded 73,000 since it erupted following the attacks on October 7, 2023.

Fighters led by Hamas attacked southern Israel on that day, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, according to Israeli statistics.

The killing of Al-Bayek comes amid ongoing field tensions despite the ceasefire, with Israel and Hamas exchanging accusations regarding responsibility for undermining the agreement, while issues of disarmament, withdrawal, and the reconstruction of Gaza remain among the main unresolved matters.