Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza: Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 26 people in Gaza on Thursday, including 10 who were sheltering in a tent camp for displaced families, according to medical officials. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have hit a deadlock, and the relentless bombardments persist.
Among the casualties were 15 people killed in separate incidents, including a devastating early morning strike on the Mowasi humanitarian zone. This attack killed at least 10 people, including three children and two senior officers of Hamas’ police force.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted a senior Hamas police official allegedly involved in gathering intelligence used for attacks against Israeli forces.
In another incident, eight people were killed in an airstrike on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. According to local hospitals, the victims were members of a committee responsible for securing aid convoys.
Meanwhile, in the southern region of Gaza near Khan Yunis, five Hamas police officers were killed in an Israeli attack. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the operation targeted the head of Hamas’ internal security forces for southern Gaza. “Where did we locate him? Naturally, in the humanitarian zone of Khan Yunis, where many Gazans are seeking refuge,” Mencer commented.
Throughout the ongoing conflict, Israeli strikes have heavily impacted Gaza’s police force, leading to a breakdown in law and order. This has further complicated efforts by humanitarian groups to deliver crucial aid to the area. Israel has accused Hamas of misappropriating aid supplies for its own purposes.
Another airstrike in central Gaza’s Magach neighborhood killed three pedestrians.
On Wednesday, Israel issued a warning, stating that it would escalate its operations if Hamas continued to hold hostages and launch rockets. Hamas has been holding hostages since October 2023.
“I have a clear message for Hamas leaders: If the hostages are not released soon and the attacks on our communities persist, Gaza will face an unprecedented level of intensity,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a large-scale assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and capturing approximately 250 hostages. Reports suggest that about 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third believed to have died.
Israel’s counteroffensive has resulted in over 45,500 Palestinian deaths and left more than 108,000 injured, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The violence has devastated large parts of Gaza, displacing 90% of its 2.3 million residents.
The international community remains deeply divided. The United States, Britain, the European Union, and other nations have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations warn of a deepening crisis in Gaza amid escalating violence.
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