Israeli air strikes on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people in the Gaza Strip, including three children and two senior officers of the Hamas-run police force, according to Palestinian officials.
The early morning air strikes targeted multiple locations in Gaza, including a humanitarian zone known as Muwasi, where thousands of displaced Palestinians have been seeking refuge in tents during the cold, rainy winter. A bomb that hit a tent in Muwasi killed several individuals, including children, who had taken shelter in the area.
Another strike targeted a group of individuals in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least eight people. These victims were reportedly members of local committees who have been helping to protect humanitarian aid convoys in the region, as confirmed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies.
The Israeli military stated that the air strikes were aimed at Hamas militants, specifically targeting senior members of the organization’s internal security apparatus. One of the victims, Hossam Shahwan, was described as a senior officer in the Hamas-run police force in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, Shahwan had been involved in gathering intelligence for attacks against Israeli forces. Another senior Hamas officer, Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Salah, was also killed in the strikes.
The Israeli military has repeatedly stated that Hamas militants are hiding among civilians, thereby complicating the military’s efforts to target the group without causing civilian casualties. Israel has also blamed Hamas for the deaths of civilians, alleging that the militant group uses non-combatants as human shields.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has seen significant loss of life and destruction in Gaza. The war, now in its 15th month, has caused severe disruptions in everyday life, with widespread damage to infrastructure and a breakdown in law and order across the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority, which once maintained control in many areas, has seen its influence significantly diminished, particularly in regions heavily targeted by Israeli air strikes.
Before the war, the Hamas-run government maintained a large police force that helped enforce order in Gaza, but the police presence has since been greatly reduced following Israeli military strikes on security personnel. This has exacerbated the difficulty in delivering essential humanitarian aid, as lawlessness in some areas makes it difficult for aid convoys to reach those in need.
While the Israeli military maintains that it is targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure, critics argue that the scale of civilian casualties is disproportionate and represents a violation of international law. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground continues to worsen, with humanitarian organizations warning of an impending crisis as Gaza’s residents face shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
As the conflict persists, both the military strikes and the humanitarian disaster in Gaza have drawn condemnation from various international bodies, with calls for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks to prevent further loss of life.