The IDF revealed Friday that a senior Hamas commander eliminated in an Israeli airstrike earlier this week was responsible for holding numerous Israeli hostages captive in Gaza during the war.

According to the IDF, extensive intelligence research determined that Izz al-Din al-Bik, commander of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade, “commanded the captivity of Israeli hostages during the war.” Al-Bik was eliminated in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Tuesday.

The IDF identified the hostages who were held under Al-Bik’s responsibility as Mia Schem, Hisham al-Sayed, Amit Buskila, Uriel Baruch, Cpl. Nik Beizer, Sgt. Ron Sherman, Elia Toledano, Shani Louk, Michel Nisenbaum, Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, Yitzhak Gelerenter, Eitan Levy, Hanan Yablonka, Ron Benjamin and Orion Hernandez.

Al-Bik had served as commander of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade since the previous commander, Ahmed Ghandour, was eliminated by Israel on November 10, 2023.

Before taking command of the brigade, Al-Bik served in several senior Hamas positions, including as the Northern Gaza Brigade’s intelligence chief and commander of the Western Jabalia Battalion.

According to the IDF, Al-Bik used those positions to advance and finance numerous attacks against Israeli civilians and was among the founders of Hamas’s elite Nukhba forces in northern Gaza.

The military also said Al-Bik “commanded and participated in the infiltration into Israeli territory” during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre.

Al-Bik was eliminated in what the IDF and Shin Bet described as a precise aerial strike in Gaza City. Israeli officials said he had continued directing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and was involved in rebuilding the capabilities of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)