Ten killed in Israeli strikes and clashes between Hamas and militia in Gaza, local sources say
At Least 10 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Strikes and Gaza Clashes, Reports Claim
Local reports indicate that Israeli air strikes and armed confrontations between Hamas and an Israel-backed Palestinian group in central Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians. The attacks reportedly focused on Hamas security personnel who were involved in a skirmish with the militia east of the Maghazi refugee camp. However, it remains unclear how many casualties were caused directly by the strikes or during the ground clashes.
Al-Aqsa Hospital Confirms 10 Bodies Arrived
A representative from al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah stated that ten bodies were transported to the facility. Additional individuals were injured, with several in critical condition. Neither the Israeli military nor Hamas has yet issued a formal response to the incident. The precise order of events on Monday is still under investigation, though witnesses described the militia’s setup of a checkpoint east of Maghazi, which led to an attack by Hamas forces.
“We will not accept raising the issue of weapons in this crude manner,” said Abu Ubaida, whose namesake was killed in an Israeli strike last year. He added: “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.”
Witnesses reported that Israeli drones supported the militia, conducting strikes on Hamas personnel in three distinct locations. The conflict has intensified accusations from both sides, with Israel and Hamas each claiming repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement they reached nearly six months ago. Since the agreement, Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza have recorded at least 723 Palestinian fatalities from Israeli attacks. The Israeli military has confirmed five of its soldiers were killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.
The issue of disarming Hamas has emerged as a major obstacle in advancing the second phase of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Last week, a Hamas delegation met with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo to discuss a proposal from the US-led Board of Peace. On Sunday, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing rejected disarmament discussions before Israel met its obligations under the initial phase of the plan.
Abu Ubaida also connected the current conflict in Gaza to broader tensions involving Israel, the US, and Iran’s allies. He praised missile, drone, and rocket attacks by Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, calling them an “extension” of Hamas’s actions on 7 October 2023. That day marked the start of the Gaza war, following a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and captured 251 others. Israel’s military response has since claimed over 72,300 lives in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.
