Ten killed in Israeli strikes and clashes between Hamas and militia in Gaza, local sources say
Ten Killed in Israeli Strikes and Gaza Clashes, Reports Say
Local reports indicate that Israeli air strikes and confrontations between Hamas and an Israel-aligned Palestinian group in central Gaza have resulted in at least 10 Palestinian deaths. The attacks were said to target Hamas security officers involved in a skirmish with the militia east of the Maghazi refugee camp. However, it remains unclear whether the fatalities stem from the aerial assaults or the ground-level fighting.
Casualty Details
A representative from al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah stated that 10 bodies were transported to the facility. Additional casualties included numerous injured individuals, some in critical condition. Neither the Israeli military nor Hamas has yet issued a public statement on the incident.
Ceasefire Tensions
Witnesses claimed that the militia established a checkpoint east of Maghazi, which became a target for Hamas security forces. This led to armed clashes, during which Israeli drones reportedly intervened, conducting strikes on Hamas personnel in three distinct locations. Both parties have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, a pact established nearly six months prior.
Peace Plan Stalemate
The issue of disarming Palestinian groups has emerged as a critical obstacle to advancing the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. Recently, a Hamas delegation engaged with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo to address a proposal from the U.S.-led peace board. On Sunday, Hamas’s military spokesperson dismissed discussions about disarmament until Israel meets its obligations under the initial phase of the plan.
“We will not accept raising the issue of weapons in this crude manner,” said Abu Ubaida, whose relative was killed in an Israeli strike last year. He emphasized, “What the enemy failed to take from us by tanks and destruction, it will not take from us through politics or at the negotiating table.”
Broader Conflict Context
Abu Ubaida connected the current conflict in Gaza to the larger rivalry between Israel and its allies, including the U.S. and Iran. He commended missile, drone, and rocket attacks by Iranian-backed forces in Lebanon and Yemen, calling them an “extension” of Hamas’s actions on 7 October 2023. That day, Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and capturing 251 others. Israel’s military response has since claimed over 72,300 lives in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.
