Israel kills senior police official in Gaza, medics say

An Israeli airstrike on Saturday killed Abdel-Nasser Al-Maqadma, the head of the police force in the northern Gaza Strip and governor of the region, according to the enclave’s interior ministry and medics. The Israeli military stated Al-Maqadma was part of Hamas' military wing.

Al-Maqadma was among at least five Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday. Medics reported that a Palestinian medic in the Nuseirat refugee camp and a police officer wounded in a previous strike also died. In Khan Younis, an airstrike killed two individuals, which the Israeli military said targeted an Islamic Jihad fighter. Another strike in Khan Younis killed Khaled Al-Breim, a high school student, who relatives said was distributing sweets to celebrate finishing high school.

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He was part of Hamas' military wing.

The Israeli military has killed numerous police officials in recent months, asserting they are members of Hamas' armed wing. Hamas contends these attacks aim to create chaos and anarchy in Gaza and violate the U.S.-brokered October ceasefire. The conflict has resulted in over 1,180 Palestinian deaths, primarily civilians, since the ceasefire, according to Gaza health officials. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by fighters in Gaza during the same period.

Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and the United States, are attempting to advance a plan for ending the conflict. The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent offensive has led to over 73,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials.

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Israeli attacks on the police force and its headquarters are intended to sow chaos and anarchy in the enclave and violate the US-brokered October ceasefire.