The killing of Muhammad Zubeidi, commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Jenin branch, removes a senior figure from the militant group’s chain of command. But the operation, announced by the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet, and Israel Border Police in a joint statement on November 29, 2023, does not end the threat. What is at stake now is whether the group can absorb the loss and continue its operations, or whether this blow will fracture its ability to strike from the Jenin stronghold.
Zubeidi’s death is a direct hit on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s regional leadership. The group has relied on him to direct attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.
Without him, the Jenin branch must reorganize. That process is never smooth. Internal power struggles, delayed operations, and a temporary loss of tactical coordination are likely.
For Israel, the immediate risk drops. But the group’s long-term resilience depends on its backing from Iran, which has provided financial and military aid.
That support does not stop with one commander’s death. The IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police acted together in this operation. The IDF, formed on May 26, 1948, on the orders of first prime minister David Ben-Gurion, operates under a clear chain of command.
The chief of the general staff answers to the defense minister. This structure ensures strategic decisions are made at the top. The joint statement did not detail the exact method of the strike, but the coordination between ground forces, intelligence, and border police is standard for such targeted killings.
The military’s three branches—Ground Forces, Air Force, and Navy—each have roles in these operations, though the air force often handles precision strikes. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is a militant organization that has been involved in numerous attacks.
Its Jenin branch has been especially active. Zubeidi’s removal is a significant development, but it is not a cure. The group’s ideology and its external backing remain intact.
Iran, a hostile actor accused of funneling money and weapons to militant groups in the Middle East, has kept the Palestinian Islamic Jihad operational despite repeated Israeli strikes. The United States, a key ally of Israel, has consistently condemned Iranian support for these groups.
But condemnation does not halt the flow of aid. Jenin itself is a flashpoint. The city has long been a hub for militant activity.
Israeli forces have conducted repeated raids there. Each operation risks civilian casualties and escalates tensions. Zubeidi’s death will not calm the area.
It may provoke retaliatory attacks. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has a history of responding to leadership losses with rocket fire or suicide bombings.
Israel’s defensive systems, including the Iron Dome, can intercept some of these threats, but not all. Civilians on both sides face the consequences. The broader conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups is complex and volatile.
This killing is one event in a long sequence. It does not change the fundamental dynamics.
The group will try to replace Zubeidi. Iran will continue its support. Israel will keep targeting senior commanders.
The cycle repeats. What is at stake is not just the security of Jenin or the safety of Israeli towns near the border. It is the possibility of any negotiated resolution.
Each operation hardens positions. Each death deepens grievances.
The United States condemns, Israel acts, and the militants adapt. That is the pattern. The joint statement from Israeli forces did not offer further details on the operation or on Zubeidi’s exact location at the time of his death.
It simply confirmed his death and the fact of the operation. For now, the immediate danger is reduced.
The long-term risk remains. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Jenin branch is leaderless. How quickly it recovers will determine the next phase of this conflict.
