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At least eight Palestinians, including a four-year-old child and five police officers, have been killed in recent Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip, local medical and official sources reported.
Fatal Attacks Reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis
In northern Gaza City, hospital officials stated that a missile strike landed near Cairo School in the Al-Rimal neighborhood. The strike killed three people, including a four-year-old boy. Outside Shifa Hospital, crowds gathered to pray over the victims. Ali Oweis, whose son and young grandson were killed in the strike, told reporters they were sitting peacefully in their tent when the missile hit.
In the southern city of Khan Younis, a drone attack targeted a group of police officers in the Al-Mawasi area. The Hamas-run ministry of interior reported that five officers, aged between 23 and 53, were killed while performing routine duties. The ministry described the attack as a horrific massacre.
Military Response and Ceasefire Status
The Israeli military stated that it carried out two strikes against military operatives, though it has not yet provided further details or evidence supporting the claim. Israel maintains that its operations target Hamas, though civilian deaths continue to occur frequently.
A ceasefire went into effect in October of last year, which included an agreement to end the war and exchange thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza. However, airstrikes have continued on an almost daily basis, and a broader peace plan brokered by the Trump administration has stalled.
Casualty Overview
Data provided by local health authorities highlights the broader impact of the hostilities:
- At least 1,580 people have been killed in Gaza since the October ceasefire came into force.
- Total fatalities in Gaza since the war began have reached 74,594, according to the territory's health ministry.
- The war began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken.
Source: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill eight including child, hospitals say