Israeli drone and air strikes targeting police sites in central and southern Gaza have killed at least five people, amid ongoing ceasefire violations and rising tensions in the enclave.
Israeli Strikes Kill Five in Gaza Amid Fragile Ceasefire:
At least five Palestinians were killed in Israeli military strikes on police posts in central and southern Gaza early Friday, according to local medical and civil defence sources, in the latest escalation despite a fragile ceasefire.
Deadly Strikes Hit Gaza Police Checkpoints:
Israeli drone and air attacks struck police checkpoints in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing at least five people and injuring several others early on Friday, officials told local media.
Medical sources at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis reported the arrival of three bodies and multiple wounded individuals following the strike on the southern post, describing some of the injured as in critical condition. A separate Israeli strike at the Bureij refugee camp entrance in central Gaza killed two more Palestinians and wounded others, the sources added.
Hamas condemned the strikes, saying they showed Israel’s “blatant disregard” for mediator efforts during what was supposed to be a ceasefire phase, though both sides have accused each other of violating truce terms since October.
The renewed violence came as reports continued of broader clashes across the Gaza Strip, with additional strikes reported in Gaza City and elsewhere, contributing to mounting civilian and security force casualties amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Ongoing Conflict and Fragile Ceasefire in Gaza:
Since the outbreak of intense hostilities in October 2023, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has seen recurring cycles of air strikes, ground operations, and militant rocket fire, particularly between Israel and Hamas. While ceasefire agreements have periodically reduced outright fighting, violations have frequently occurred, leading to civilian deaths and injuries across Gaza.
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated coastal enclave, remains under significant strain from more than two years of conflict that has devastated infrastructure, displaced families, and strained public services. International mediators have repeatedly sought to broker lasting ceasefires, but violations on both sides continue to undermine efforts to stabilize the situation.
Humanitarian agencies report that the ceasefire arrangement, first established in October 2025 and entering a new phase earlier this year, has seen intermittent adherence, with spikes in violence, particularly around densely inhabited areas and security installations like police sites.