Israeli Strikes Target Gaza City Residences, Killing 11 and a Hamas Commander
Aerial attacks hit four residential areas early Thursday morning, resulting in civilian casualties and the death of a northern Gaza Hamas leader.
Primary source: BBC World News. Full source links and update notes are below.
Fast summary
Start here
- Israeli aircraft struck four residential buildings in Gaza City neighborhoods, including Sheikh Radwan and the Shati refugee camp.
- Among the 11 dead was Hamas commander Hassan Labad, who was killed alongside his wife and three children.
- Over 940 people have been killed in Gaza since a US-brokered ceasefire deal took effect last October.
What happened
Israeli aircraft launched strikes on several residential buildings across Gaza City early Thursday morning, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens more. The strikes targeted neighborhoods including Sheikh Radwan, Tel al-Hawa, and the Shati refugee camp, causing powerful explosions and widespread panic among residents.
What's new in this update
Medical sources and eyewitnesses confirmed that one of the primary targets was Hassan Labad, a Hamas commander in northern Gaza. Labad was killed in the strike along with his wife and three children, including two children with disabilities. The Israeli military has not yet issued an official comment on the specific targets of the operation.
Key details
Witnesses reported seeing three Israeli helicopters hovering briefly over the Gaza City coastline before launching simultaneous strikes on the residential structures. Social media footage from the aftermath showed residents attempting to evacuate a building engulfed in flames in the Shati camp. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that the casualties included at least three women and multiple children.
Background and context
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire deal, Israel has continued to carry out periodic air strikes, accusing Hamas of attempting to rearm and rebuild its military infrastructure. The conflict, which began following the October 7, 2023 attacks, has resulted in over 72,950 deaths in Gaza according to the territory's health ministry. Approximately 940 of those fatalities have occurred since the ceasefire was established last year.
What to watch next
The humanitarian situation remains critical as international attention shifts toward other regional conflicts. Analysts are closely watching for official confirmation of reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the IDF to increase the area of Gaza under Israeli military control to 70%.
Why it matters
The continued strikes during an active ceasefire period and reports of expanding Israeli control underscore the volatility and worsening humanitarian decline in Gaza.
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