Israel kills eight in Gaza strikes, including five police
Medics report three deaths in Gaza City and five in Khan Younis as fighting intensifies under a shaky ceasefire.
By Ryan Davidson ·
Israeli military airstrikes killed at least eight Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The victims included five police officers and three residents of Gaza City.
Medics confirmed three deaths from a strike in Gaza City. The Hamas-run interior ministry reported that the five police officers died in a separate attack in western Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the enclave.
The Israeli military stated it targeted several militants in Khan Younis. It provided no further details and did not immediately comment on the strike in Gaza City.
Israel says the Hamas militant group has been rearming and launching attacks, violating a ceasefire established a year ago. The country has increased its strikes on the group in recent weeks. Hamas denies it is rebuilding its arsenal or attempting new attacks, accusing Israel of undermining the peace deal.
US-brokered terms for the ceasefire call for the eventual reconstruction of the territory. Negotiators have yet to agree on how Hamas will disarm or when Israel will withdraw its troops. Israeli forces currently control about two-thirds of the enclave, where they have ordered residents to leave.
Nearly all of the more than 2 million residents live in the remaining third of the territory. They occupy war ruins, makeshift tents, and damaged buildings under effective Hamas control. Health officials say at least 1,500 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began. Israel reports four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period. Palestinian authorities state more than 74,000 people have died since the assault began on October 7, 2023.
