Israel killed Izz al-Din Al-Beik, the head of Hamas’s armed wing in northern Gaza, in a dawn airstrike on an apartment building in the Nasr neighbourhood of Gaza City on Wednesday. Hamas confirmed his death. Israel said Al-Beik commanded the Northern Brigade and ran Hamas’s operations room during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Israeli forces said they had killed about 20 senior Hamas figures this month as their Gaza City offensive continued. Additional strikes on Jabalia killed more Hamas operatives, according to Israeli and Palestinian reports. The killing removes one of Hamas’s most senior remaining commanders in Gaza. Israel’s operation in Gaza City has intensified in recent weeks, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. International mediators have renewed efforts to reach a ceasefire, but talks remain stalled. Context: Hamas is the Palestinian militant group that has governed Gaza since 2007; Israel launched its Gaza offensive after the October 7, 2023 attacks.