Eight Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza

At least eight Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli military attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to information provided by hospital sources to Al Jazeera. The strikes occurred in both the northern and southern parts of the territory, resulting in multiple casualties and significant damage to infrastructure.

In the southern Gaza region, a drone strike hit the al-Mawasi area located west of Khan Younis. This attack killed five people and left several others wounded. The Gaza Ministry of Interior stated that the Israeli forces specifically targeted a group of police officers who were actively carrying out their professional duties at the time of the strike.

Hani Mahmoud, a correspondent for Al Jazeera reporting from Gaza City, noted that the officers were targeted while performing their jobs. In response to the incident, the Israeli army told the AFP news agency that its objective in southern Gaza was to eliminate a terrorist. The discrepancy in accounts highlights the ongoing tension regarding the specific targets of recent military operations.

Simultaneous attacks were reported in northern Gaza, where at least three Palestinians were killed in a drone strike on the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. Among the victims was a four-year-old boy, according to sources at al-Shifa Hospital. The strike also impacted the Taj Mall, a well-known commercial center in the area.

In addition to those killed directly by the Sunday strikes, one more person died from injuries sustained during a previous attack. This brings the total death toll for the day to at least eight individuals, according to the initial reports from local medical facilities.

Hamas has strongly condemned the latest wave of Israeli attacks, describing them as a deliberate war crime in a statement released on Sunday. The militant group denounced what it called a horrific massacre that targeted police officers, as well as the bombardment of Gaza City that resulted in civilian casualties.

The statement from Hamas argued that the repeated targeting of police officers while they are on duty is part of a broader Israeli attempt to obstruct recovery efforts and undermine stability within the Gaza Strip. The group claimed that these actions are designed to sow chaos and noted that international silence and a failure to confront these crimes only embolden the occupation.

Hamas further characterized the events as another chapter in a series of atrocities against the Palestinian people. The group described the situation as a continuation of a genocidal war that the population is still enduring, emphasizing the tragic nature of the ongoing conflict.

These recent strikes come despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement that took effect last October. Since that agreement came into force, Israeli forces have continued to conduct attacks in Gaza, killing more than 1,500 people during that period.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the total number of Palestinians killed since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023 has reached at least 74,594. The initial war was launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which began the current phase of the conflict.