The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Ahmad Batsh, commander of Hamas's Jabaliya battalion in northern Gaza, in a precision strike overnight Monday, the military said. Batsh was involved in managing weapons, coordinating supplies, and advancing terror plots against Israeli forces and civilians in violation of the ceasefire, according to the IDF.
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Ahmad Batsh, the commander of Hamas's Jabaliya battalion in the northern Gaza Strip, was eliminated in an overnight precision strike. According to the military, Batsh was responsible for managing weapons, coordinating military supplies for the northern brigade, and advancing immediate-term terror plots against Israeli forces and civilians in violation of the ceasefire. The IDF stated that steps were taken to minimize civilian harm, including precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
The elimination was first reported by The Zioneer at 06:39 Tuesday, which identified Batsh as the head of Hamas's northern brigade weapons department, killed in a precision airstrike on his vehicle. Hamas itself confirmed his death early Tuesday (02:20), stating that Batsh commanded the Jabaliya al-Bald battalion and infiltrated Israel during the October 7, 2023 massacre. Thousands attended his funeral in Gaza City on Tuesday morning, according to reports from the region.
Batsh's role as a senior commander in northern Gaza places him among a series of Hamas military leaders targeted by the IDF in recent months, part of an ongoing campaign to degrade the terror group's command structure despite the ceasefire framework. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the IDF has eliminated several Hamas commanders in the Jabaliya area for rebuilding terror capabilities and planning attacks in violation of the truce.
No further details on the precise timing of the strike or additional casualties have been released. The IDF's confirmation provides the highest level of official corroboration, following earlier reports from Palestinian sources and the terror group itself.
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