Gaza: Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 68 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including at a tent camp where Mahmoud Salah, head of Gaza’s Hamas-controlled police force, his deputy Hussam Shahwan, and nine displaced individuals lost their lives, according to Gaza authorities. Israel stated that Shahwan was the leader of Hamas’ security forces in southern Gaza.
The airstrike targeted the Al-Mawasi district, previously designated as a humanitarian zone for civilians in the ongoing 14-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. Gaza’s interior ministry reported that Salah and Shahwan were killed while inspecting the camp.
“By committing the crime of assassinating the director general of police in the Gaza Strip, the occupation is insisting on spreading chaos in the (enclave) and deepening the human suffering of citizens,” said the Hamas-run ministry in a statement.
The Israeli military described the operation as intelligence-based, confirming the elimination of Shahwan. However, it did not acknowledge Salah’s death.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed concern over the incident. “As the year begins, we got … another reminder that there is no humanitarian zone let alone a safe zone in Gaza,” Lazzarini said in a post on X. “Every day without a ceasefire will bring more tragedy.”
Deadliest Day in Weeks
Thursday’s death toll was one of the highest in recent weeks. Additional Israeli airstrikes killed 57 Palestinians, including six in Khan Younis’ interior ministry headquarters and others in locations such as Jabalia refugee camp, Shati (Beach) camp, Maghazi camp, and Gaza City.
The Israeli military stated it had targeted Hamas operatives in a command and control center located within the Khan Younis municipality building in the humanitarian area. A spokesperson for the Israeli military, responding to questions about the civilian casualties, said the military adhered to international law and took “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”
Hamas’ smaller ally, Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for firing rockets into southern Israel’s kibbutz of Holit. The Israeli military intercepted one projectile launched from southern Gaza.
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Rising Toll in the Gaza Conflict
The ongoing war has claimed more than 45,500 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Over 2.3 million residents of Gaza have been displaced, with vast sections of the densely populated coastal enclave reduced to rubble.
The conflict escalated following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza, as per Israeli figures.
