An Israeli airstrike and gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, including a 10-year-old boy and a senior Hamas police officer, confirmed health and police officials in Gaza. This incident adds to the toll of over 1,100 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks following an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to enclave health authorities.
The ceasefire aimed to reduce major conflicts but has not completely halted sporadic violence. During the same period, four Israeli soldiers lost their lives in Gaza due to militant actions. The 10-year-old victim, Muataz Abu Shaar, was fatally shot by Israeli gunfire while playing alone in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Doctors without Borders (MSF) condemned the recent attacks involving children, citing that their teams have treated several children hit by stray bullets from Israeli forces. The ongoing violence has caused critical injuries and fear among civilians, particularly children, who are already struggling in dire conditions.
In another incident, an Israeli airstrike targeted a Hamas-led police post in Jabalia, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals, including a woman and the head of the Jabalia police force, Col. Mohammad Marwan Salem. The Israeli military reported that those killed were involved in planning and executing attacks, posing a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Israel desires Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and disarm, but Hamas has resisted disarmament calls. The recent escalation in violence also includes additional casualties, with a Palestinian killed near a mosque in western Gaza City and another individual killed in Khan Younis by an Israeli airstrike targeting a Hamas militant.
The current violence coincides with Hamas leaders’ visit to Cairo for discussions on implementing the next phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, focusing on disarmament and Israeli withdrawals. However, progress towards a comprehensive agreement remains slow amid ceasefire violations and ongoing conflict obstacles. The majority of Gaza’s two million residents, many displaced multiple times, now reside in cramped conditions under Hamas authority along the coastal strip.
Hamas-led fighters previously caused casualties during a cross-border attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with Israeli reports documenting 1,200 deaths. The Gazan Health Ministry reported over 73,000 Palestinian fatalities in the territory since then.