Ten killed in Israeli strikes and clashes between Hamas and militia in Gaza, local sources say
Ten killed in Israeli strikes and clashes between Hamas and militia in Gaza, local sources say
According to local sources, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes and confrontations between Hamas and an Israel-aligned Palestinian group in central Gaza. The attacks allegedly targeted Hamas security forces, following earlier clashes with the militia near the Maghazi refugee camp. However, it remains uncertain whether all casualties resulted from the strikes or the subsequent ground battles.
A representative from al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah stated that ten bodies were transported to the facility from the scene. Additional reports indicate that dozens were injured, with some in critical condition. Neither the Israeli military nor Hamas has issued a statement regarding the incident, leaving the precise sequence of events on Monday still unclear.
Clashes and drone support
Witnesses described how the Israel-backed militia established a checkpoint east of Maghazi, prompting an attack by Hamas security personnel. This led to intense fighting, during which Israeli drones reportedly intervened, launching strikes on Hamas targets in three separate locations. The conflict has reignited accusations from both sides about breaching the ceasefire they agreed upon nearly six months ago.
Since the ceasefire was signed, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza claims at least 723 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reports five of its soldiers have been killed by Palestinian groups in the same timeframe. Disarmament has emerged as a critical obstacle to advancing the second phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Disarmament and political tensions
Recent meetings in Cairo saw a Hamas delegation engage with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators to address a proposal for Palestinian factions to dismantle their weapons. However, Hamas’s military wing spokesperson rejected the idea of disarmament until Israel fulfills its obligations under the first phase of the plan. “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.
“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.”
Abu Ubaida also connected the Gaza conflict to the broader tensions between Israel and the US, as well as Iran and its allies. He praised missile, drone, and rocket attacks by Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen, calling them an “extension” of Hamas’s actions on 7 October 2023. That day marked the beginning of the Gaza war, when Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s military response has led to over 72,300 casualties in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously warned that Hamas would be disarmed “either the easy way or the hard way.” The ongoing dispute underscores the complex dynamics of the conflict and its implications for regional stability.
