Israel announced that the commander of Hamas’s northern brigade, who was recently killed in Gaza City, during the war was responsible for maintaining a number of hostages held in captivity.

The Israeli army said in a statement that “following extensive intelligence investigations,” it could reveal that Izzeddin Baik, who was killed on Tuesday, “commanded the holding of Israeli hostages during the war.

Israel also published the names of the hostages for whose captivity Baik was responsible.

According to the Israeli army and Hamas, Baik took on this role after the previous commander of Hamas’s northern brigade in Gaza, Ahmed Ghandour, was killed by Israel on November 10, 2023.

Before that, he held other senior positions as well, including the head of intelligence for Gaza’s northern brigade and commander of the western battalion of Jabalia.