Palestinians mourn slain northern Gaza commander after Israeli strike

Dozens of Palestinians marched through the streets of western Gaza on Tuesday behind the bodies of Izz Al-Din Al-Baik, commander of Al-Qassam Brigades’ northern Gaza brigade, and his escort, Mohannad Abu Al-Foul, hours after an Israeli dawn air strike assassinated both men in an apartment in Gaza City.

The funeral procession departed from Al-Shifa Hospital, where mourners raised chants demanding retribution against Israel and the occupation army, pledging to press ahead along the path of liberation.

At dawn on Tuesday, the Israeli occupation military carried out a joint operation with the Shin Bet domestic security agency, targeting a residential apartment in the Al-Nasr neighborhood west of Gaza City with an air strike that killed Al-Baik.

An eyewitness told Al Manassa that occupation forces struck the apartment with two aerial missiles without issuing any prior warning while surrounding residents slept.

“We woke up to the sound of a massive explosion, screaming and dust, followed by fire tearing through the entire apartment,” the resident said.

Civil defense crews arrived to extinguish the blaze and pulled one body from inside the apartment. Approximately three hours later, neighbors discovered a second body in an adjacent house. Paramedics transferred both bodies to Al-Shifa Hospital, where relatives confirmed the identity of al-Baik—known by the nom de guerre “Ashmawy”—and his escort, Abu Al-Foul, a family source told Al Manassa.

The family source stated that Al-Baik had survived at least four Israeli assassination attempts in recent months, surviving strikes against sites where he had been present before occupation forces succeeded in killing him on Tuesday morning.

The Israeli occupation military subsequently announced Al-Baik’s death in the operation, confirming that he had commanded the northern Gaza brigade after succeeding Ahmed Al-Ghandour, whom Israel assassinated earlier during its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip. 

The Israeli military accused Al-Baik of directing the brigade’s operatives, rebuilding its military capabilities and mounting attacks against occupation forces.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed direct responsibility for the assassination, alleging that Al-Baik participated in executing attacks against Israel and affirming that military operations targeting Hamas leaders and fighters will continue.

Al-Baik stood as one of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ foremost field commanders in the northern Gaza Strip, according to an Al Jazeera report. Over his military career, he led the First Special Unit in the Northern Brigade, commanded the Martyr Imad Aqel Battalion west of Jabalia camp for approximately 10 years, and later directed the brigade’s military intelligence division.

Hamas sources cited by Al Jazeera stated that Al-Baik took part in drafting tactical military and intelligence battle plans during the war.

Al-Baik assumed command of the northern Gaza brigade following the assassination of Ahmed Al-Ghandour in November 2023, sources told Al Jazeera, overseeing military operations across Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Jabalia camp and Jabalia Al-Balad.