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
Local sources report that Israeli air strikes and ongoing confrontations between Hamas and an Israel-supported Palestinian faction in central Gaza have resulted in at least 10 fatalities. The attacks reportedly aimed at Hamas operatives involved in a skirmish with the militia near the Maghazi refugee camp. However, it remains uncertain whether the casualties were due to the airstrikes or the ground-level combat.
A representative from al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah confirmed that ten bodies were transported to the facility. Additional reports indicate that numerous individuals sustained injuries, with several in critical condition. Neither the Israeli military nor Hamas has issued a formal response to the incident as of now.
Witnesses described how the militia established a checkpoint east of Maghazi, prompting an assault by Hamas security forces. This led to intensified fighting, during which Israeli drones reportedly provided aerial support, launching strikes on Hamas targets in three separate locations. The exact order of events on Monday is still under investigation.
Disarmament dispute fuels tensions
The issue of weapon disarming has emerged as a major obstacle in advancing the second phase of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. Recently, a Hamas delegation convened with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo to discuss a proposal from the US-led peace board, which seeks the decommissioning of Palestinian weaponry.
Hamas’s military spokesperson rejected disarmament talks unless Israel fulfills its obligations under the first phase of the plan. “We will not accept raising the issue of weapons in this crude manner,” stated Abu Ubaida, whose relative was killed in an Israeli strike the previous year. He emphasized that Hamas would not surrender its arms through political means or negotiation, asserting that the enemy could not take them by force or diplomacy.
Abu Ubaida further connected the Gaza conflict to the larger geopolitical struggle between Israel and its allies, including the US and Iran. He praised attacks by Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, calling them an “extension” of Hamas’s actions on 7 October 2023.
War’s toll and ongoing hostilities
The Gaza conflict was ignited by Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which claimed over 1,200 lives and captured 251 individuals. Since then, Israeli military operations have led to the deaths of at least 723 Palestinians, according to Hamas’s health ministry. The Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed five of their soldiers were killed in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously warned that Hamas would be disarmed “either the easy way or the hard way.” The current stalemate underscores the challenges in achieving a lasting ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of breaching the agreement reached nearly six months ago.
