Hamas official's arrest in Gaza gave Israel intelligence surge to kill top terrorists - exclusive

This is the third assassination of a Hamas brigade chief since September 11, meaning that three out of the five brigade commanders have been killed during that period.

The arrest of a senior Hamas official on September 2 gave Israel tremendous intelligence which has helped create a spike in locating and assassinating other top Hamas officials, funds, and weapons, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

On September 2, the IDF, Shin Bet, and various Palestinian militias captured Mu'in al-Arabid, one of Hamas's top internal security officials.

The IDF and Shin Bet on Tuesday confirmed the overnight assassination of Hamas Northern Gaza Brigade Chief Izz al-Din al-Bik in Gaza City.

This is the third assassination of a Hamas brigade chief since September 11, meaning that three out of the five brigade commanders have been killed during that period.

Al-Bik had served in his current role since Ahmed Randur was assassinated by Israel on November 10, 2023.

According to the joint statement, al-Bik was responsible for managing the activities of the brigade’s operatives, including issuing orders to carry out attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians.

He also managed efforts to reconstitute the brigade’s capabilities, which had been heavily damaged over the last three years of war, said the IDF.

Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed the assassination in a statement shortly before the official IDF and Shin Bet statement.

Prior, the IDF killed two of five Hamas brigade commanders

In mid-September, the IDF and Shin Bet killed Muhammad Yazouri in the Khan Yunis area. Yazouri served as commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade.

Yazouri was appointed to the position after holding a series of roles in the brigade, including deputy commander of the Khan Yunis Brigade.

He replaced Rafa Salame.

Further, in mid-September, the IDF and Shin Bet also announced that they had struck Hamas Rafah Brigade commander Nayal Abu Obeid.

Obeid replaced his predecessor, Mohammad Shabanah, who was killed by the IDF in May 2025.

Abu Obeid was a key figure among Hamas leaders, according to a statement from the IDF, and previously served as the deputy commander of the Rafah Brigade and commander of the Tel al-Sultan and Yibna Battalions.