IDF says it eliminated Hamas commander in northern Gaza — Jerusalem Post
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a strike in the northern Gaza Strip and eliminated Izz ad-Din Bik, commander of the Northern Brigade of Hamas’s military wing. As the Jerusalem Post reports, the IDF said he was responsible for coordinating the brigade’s fighters and rebuilding its forces after losses during the war.
IDF statement
According to the Israeli military, Bik assumed the position after the elimination of Ahmed Ghandour and had previously headed the brigade’s military intelligence. The IDF claims that he commanded the unit’s fighters and directed them to carry out attacks against Israeli military personnel and civilians.
The military also said that Bik posed a direct threat to Israel’s military personnel and civilians. According to its version, he was eliminated in a precise airstrike.
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This is one of several recent strikes against Hamas commanders linked to units in Jabalia, Rafah and other areas of the Gaza Strip. In May 2026, the IDF reported the elimination of Imad Hassan Hussein Aslim, deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade and commander of the Zeitoun Battalion. In July, the military said it had eliminated Raed Hani Muhammad al-Amsi, commander of an aerial observation platoon, and in August, Bilal Ibrahim Saleh Raki, commander of a Hamas anti-tank unit.
Previous statements about Hamas units
The Israeli military had previously repeatedly said that Hamas units in the northern Gaza Strip had been defeated or eliminated. According to the IDF, 10 battalions were defeated there by mid-November 2023, and 20 of the group’s 24 battalions had been eliminated by the end of March 2024.
In April 2024, the IDF said it had eliminated 12,000 fighters in the Gaza Strip, including five brigade commanders, 20 battalion commanders and 100 company commanders. The Jerusalem Post notes that continued strikes on commanders may indicate that Hamas is appointing new commanders and attempting to rebuild its structures. The publication also writes that the group controls about 40% of the Gaza Strip’s territory.
