Head of Hamas Police in Northern Gaza Killed in Israeli Air Strike

The head of the Hamas-led police force in northern Gaza, Brigadier-General Abdel-Nasser Al-Maqadma, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Saturday. The Israeli military identified Al-Maqadma, who also served as governor of northern Gaza, as a member of Hamas's military wing.

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The Israeli military said he had also been a member of the military wing of Hamas.

Further Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of a Palestinian medic in the Nuseirat refugee camp and two individuals in a house in Khan Younis. The Israeli military claimed the Khan Younis strike targeted a member of the Islamic Jihad group. Another air strike in Khan Younis killed high school student Khaled Al-Breim, who relatives said was distributing sweets to family members celebrating his academic achievements.

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Relatives said he was killed as he sought to bring ⁠sweets to distribute to relatives and friends who had flocked into his family home to offer their congratulations as he had just concluded high school and was preparing for university.

A sixth Palestinian died from wounds sustained last week after being hit by an Israeli strike. Hamas accuses Israel of deliberately targeting its police force to destabilize the Gaza Strip, calling it a violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement from October. Israel maintains that many police officers are linked to Hamas's armed wing and pose a threat.

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In recent months, Israel has killed dozens of members of the Hamas-led police force, alleging that many were tied to Hamas’ armed wing and represented an active threat.

According to Gaza's health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed over 1,180 Palestinians, mostly civilians, since the ceasefire was signed. During the same period, four Israeli soldiers have been killed in attacks within Gaza.

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Hamas accuses Israel of deliberately targeting the force to destabilise the enclave, calling it a further breach of the US-brokered ceasefire reached in October.