Four Hamas sources in the Gaza Strip confirmed on Tuesday that Israel assassinated the commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades' Northern Brigade, Izz al-Din al-Beik, in an airstrike in the Al-Nasr neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City. The sources said in separate statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Beik, known by the nom de guerre of "Ashmawi," was killed on the spot after being targeted in a strike that hit a residential apartment with three missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the operation, confirming al-Beik's assassination. The attack occurred at 3:30 AM, as witnessed by the Asharq Al-Awsat reporter, who noted that fire consumed the apartment and continued burning for more than half an hour until Civil Defense crews managed to extinguish it. The attack took place adjacent to another residential building subjected to a similar daytime attack about two months ago. During that strike, Adham Nassan, commander of operations in the Gaza Brigade of the Al-Qassam Brigades and one of those who played a prominent role in the October 7, 2023 attack, was assassinated. Previous Assassination Attempt Al-Beik had previously survived an assassination attempt end of May, just days after the killing of Izz al-Din al-Haddad and Muhammad Awad, who successively led the Al-Qassam Brigades in the Gaza Strip, succeeding Muhammad al-Sinwar. Imad Islim, deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade and commander of the Zeitoun Battalion, was killed in that raid. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat at the time that a meeting was set to take place between Islim and al-Beik, along with the new commander of the Gaza Brigade, Muhannad Rajab, but the latter two had not arrived at the location when the raid was executed. This operation came about two weeks after the assassination of the commander of the Khan Younis Brigade in Al-Qassam, Muhammad al-Yazouri, and the commander of the Rafah Brigade, Nael Abu Obeid. Who is al-Beik Izz al-Din al-Beik, 48, a resident of the Faluja area in Jabalia camp - one of Hamas's most prominent strongholds - had been a top activist in the movement for many years. With the outbreak of the Second Al-Aqsa Intifada, he began working with the Al-Qassam Brigades and was heavily active in operations confronting Israeli incursions into the camp and the town of Beit Lahia. He was among the first to use "Al-Yassin" anti-armor shells to counter a major Israeli military operation targeting Jabalia camp in 2004. According to Hamas sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Beik led the first special forces unit in Al-Qassam in Jabalia camp, currently known as "Elite" (Nukhba). For many years, he led the "Imad Aql" (Western) Battalion in the Jabalia camp area before leaving it to become the head of the intelligence apparatus for the Northern Brigade. Following the assassination of Ahmad al-Ghandour in November 2023, he became the commander of the Northern Brigade. Sources say that during his time as head of intelligence for the Northern Brigade, he was described as the "spoiled boy" of Muhammad Awad, who was then head of the intelligence corner for the entire Gaza Strip. The two shared a special relationship and were both residents of Jabalia camp. The sources clarify that he led the operation that foiled what was called the "Generals' Plan" during the recent war, which aimed to displace the residents of the northern Gaza Strip, and he stood ground alongside his fighters in face-to-face battles against the Israeli army. One Hamas source who knew him well described him as a skilled sniper who also took responsibility for operations management in the Northern Brigade for a period, adding that he was a popular figure among the public. Both before and during the war, al-Beik survived several assassination attempts. One occurred inside Jabalia camp during the second half of the recent war, in which his bodyguard was killed.
