The September 2 arrest of senior Hamas internal security official Mu'in al-Arabid in Gaza yielded a substantial intelligence haul that Israeli authorities say directly aided operations to locate and eliminate senior Hamas field commanders, as well as associated funds and weapons caches.
Israeli forces, together with the Shin Bet and allied Palestinian militias, detained al-Arabid on September 2. Officials described him as one of Hamas's top internal security figures, and said the information obtained after his capture accelerated efforts to identify targets within Hamas's command structure.
Since September 11, Israeli authorities have confirmed the deaths of three Hamas brigade commanders. On Tuesday, the IDF and Shin Bet announced the overnight killing of Izz al-Din al-Bik, chief of the Northern Gaza Brigade, in Gaza City. That strike was described in a joint statement as targeting the operative responsible for directing brigade activity, issuing orders for attacks on soldiers and civilians, and leading efforts to rebuild the brigade's capabilities after years of degradation.
IDF Paratroopers Brigade operating in the Gaza Strip. Pictures released on August 24, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Al-Bik had held the Northern Gaza Brigade post after Ahmed Randur was killed by Israeli forces on November 10, 2023. Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly disclosed al-Bik's killing shortly before the formal IDF and Shin Bet announcement.
Earlier in mid-September, Israeli security services killed Muhammad Yazouri in the Khan Yunis area. Yazouri had risen through the Khan Yunis Brigade ranks, serving as deputy commander before being appointed commander, replacing Rafa Salame.
Also in mid-September, the IDF and Shin Bet announced a strike against Nayal Abu Obeid, the Rafah Brigade commander. Abu Obeid succeeded Mohammad Shabanah, who was killed by the IDF in May 2025. The IDF described Abu Obeid as a senior Hamas figure who previously served as deputy commander of the Rafah Brigade and as commander of the Tel al-Sultan and Yibna battalions.
Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post that intelligence recovered after Mu'in al-Arabid's arrest helped accelerate efforts to find Hamas leaders, as well as associated funding networks and weapons caches. The string of high-level strikes since September 11 represents a notable shift in tempo, with three of five brigade commanders reported killed during that period.
Source: The Jerusalem Post; official statements from the IDF and Shin Bet.
