Israeli strikes killed at least seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, including five in a refugee camp and two in a car, according to health officials.
Details of the Attacks
Medics and residents reported that an Israeli drone fired a missile at people who had emerged from their homes when an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia attempted to storm an area east of the Maghazi camp. In addition to the five fatalities, several people were injured.
The Israeli military, which has been fighting Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory since October 2023, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this incident.
Escalation of Incursions
Incursions by Israeli-backed armed gangs, whom Hamas brands as “Israeli collaborators,” have escalated in recent weeks. Leaders of these groups, who operate in areas under Israeli control, state that their aim is to topple Hamas rule.
Later on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike struck a vehicle in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing two people and wounding several others, medics said. The Israeli military told Reuters it was a “targeted strike” and provided no further details.
Ceasefire Status
An October ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, has failed to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza. Israel and Hamas are deadlocked in indirect talks over implementing the second phase of the deal, which includes the group’s disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals.
The ceasefire left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, with Hamas controlling a sliver of coastal territory. Some 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce came into effect, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period, the country’s military has said. Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters. Israel says its post-ceasefire strikes are aimed at preventing attacks or stopping people from approaching its armistice line with Hamas.
