The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the death of a senior Hamas commander, Muhammad al-‘Ajlah, who they say was responsible for providing weapons to terrorists involved in attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Al-‘Ajlah, who commanded Hamas’ Shejaiya battalion, was killed in what the IDF described as a “precise strike” on Sunday, according to a statement released Tuesday.

The Shejaiya battalion is a military unit within Hamas’ armed wing, primarily operating in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, a known Hamas stronghold and site of intense fighting during past Israeli military operations.

According to the IDF, al-‘Ajlah is the fifth commander of the Shejaiya battalion to be killed since the war began, and the third since renewed operations in Gaza commenced.

The IDF stated that “Muhammad al-‘Ajlah served as the commander of a combat support company in the Shejaiya battalion throughout the war and was eliminated in a precise strike on Sunday night.”

The IDF also noted that “prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including issuing advanced warnings to civilians, precise munitions, and aerial surveillance.”

The Shejaiya battalion is known to employ tactics such as urban guerrilla warfare, tunnels, IEDs, and rocket launches, according to the IDF and other reports.

In October, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was reportedly killed during an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas’ top military commander, Mohammad Deif, was killed in a strike in July 2024. The IDF says Deif, along with Sinwar, initiated, planned, and executed the attacks.

Al-‘Ajlah’s death on Sunday coincides with the resumption of hostilities on March 18, following a two-month ceasefire.

Recent talks in Cairo on Monday aimed at reinstating the ceasefire and securing the release of Israeli hostages concluded without a breakthrough, according to Palestinian and Egyptian sources.

Hamas is demanding a commitment from Israel to end the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza, as stipulated in the three-phase ceasefire agreement that took effect in late January.

Israel has stated it will not end the war until Hamas is eliminated and the remaining hostages held in Gaza are returned.

Israel reports that 59 hostages remain in captivity, with 35 believed to be dead. Thirty-three hostages were released during the last ceasefire; 251 were initially captured during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

Reuters contributed to this report.