India, April 16 -- The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday said Hamas' Shejaiya Battalion commander Muhammad al-'Ajlah was eliminated during an airstrike in northern Gaza on Sunday.

"Muhammad al-'Ajlah served as the commander of a combat support company in the Shejaiya battalion throughout the war and was eliminated," IDF said in a statement.

The Israeli forces said he was responsible for arming the battalion's terrorists with weapons used to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.

"Al-'Ajlah was the fifth commander of Hamas' Shejaiya battalion to be eliminated since the beginning of the war, and the third since the start of the renewed operations in Gaza," IDF said.

"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were...