Israel struck Gaza again

Tel Aviv (dpa) — Palestinian medics reported further fatalities on Thursday following a new Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

Three Palestinians were killed in Gaza City and others were injured, some seriously, according to local medical sources. Reports from inside Gaza said a Hamas police outpost was hit.

Israeli military said later it had killed several armed members of Hamas in a command centre, describing them as an “imminent threat” who had been planning attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. No further details were given.

The military also said its forces had in the past week killed a Hamas member involved in the abduction of an Israeli woman during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The man had worked as a medic, it said, without specifying where or when he was killed. The abducted woman was later released under a deal between Israel and Hamas in November 2023.

The claims by both sides could not be independently verified.

Israel struck Gaza again

Although a ceasefire has been in place for more than six months in the war between Hamas and Israel, deadly attacks and confrontations continue to occur.

In a separate recent strike, Israel’s military killed a son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, according to hospital sources.

Al-Hayya is the highest-ranking Hamas official abroad and a negotiator in indirect talks with Israel on a lasting peace settlement for Gaza. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told dpa that this was the fourth of al-Hayya’s sons to have been killed in Israeli attacks.

Israel continues to control roughly half of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas has consolidated its rule in the areas it holds since the ceasefire began.

The group has so far rejected plans for disarmament outlined in a peace proposal by US President Donald Trump.