During the 1947-48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine, Gazit commanded a Haganah unit that was sent to hold Al-Qastal after its capture by Palmach commandos on April 3, 1948. During a lull in the fighting, a Haganah sentry under Gazit's command shot and killed Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, the commander of the Army of the Holy War. Gazit personally examined the body and took his papers.