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The Gaza Strip saw deadly air operations overnight into Friday as Israeli forces conducted drone strikes that hit two police positions, one at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and another in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis in the south. Medical facilities received multiple casualties, and local authorities said the strikes have further strained fragile efforts at pausing active hostilities.
Witnesses and hospital staff described scenes of urgency after the attacks. The strikes drew immediate political reactions from local leaders who said the incidents demonstrated a disregard for ongoing diplomatic channels and the fragile pause many have called a ceasefire phase.
Locations struck and immediate medical response
According to medical sources at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, three bodies arrived along with several wounded people after a strike at a police checkpoint near the al-Maslakh intersection in the al-Mawasi area. Hospital staff reported that some of the injured were in critical condition and required urgent treatment.
In the central Gaza Strip, doctors and witnesses said a separate drone strike hit a police post at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp, killing two people and injuring others. Local medical teams mobilised to stabilise the wounded amid limited resources and ongoing restrictions that affect movement and supplies.
Political fallout and statements from Hamas
A Hamas spokesperson reacted strongly to the killings, arguing that these strikes exposed what the group called Israel’s “blatant disregard” for intermediary initiatives and international bodies involved in attempting to halt hostilities. The spokesperson framed the incidents as part of a broader strategy he described as a war of extermination, saying adjustments in tactics do not change the fundamental impact on civilians.
Hamas also criticized guarantor states who have spoken publicly about stopping the fighting, asserting that the statements lack meaningful change on the ground. The group maintained that repeated attacks during the so-called ceasefire phase undermine trust in mediators and the viability of negotiated pauses.
Mediator efforts under pressure
Diplomatic actors and mediator teams have been engaged in shuttle efforts to reduce violence and secure humanitarian access. However, reports of daily violations and fresh strikes complicate those efforts, raising questions about the ability of third parties to enforce or monitor pauses in fighting. The strikes reported overnight have been cited by local leaders as evidence that progress remains fragile.
Humanitarian context and wider implications
The attacks come against a backdrop of severe humanitarian distress across the Gaza Strip. Medical facilities continue to face shortages of supplies and capacity constraints while treating casualties from ongoing hostilities. The disruption of daily life, constrained access to essential services, and mounting casualties contribute to a deteriorating environment for civilians.
Civilians living near the affected checkpoints and refugee camps face heightened risk from both direct strikes and secondary effects such as restricted movement, limited medical evacuation options, and the psychological toll of recurrent violence. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that continued hostilities deepen an already dire situation for residents.
Local reporting and verification
Information about the incidents has come from local medical sources, hospital intake records, and eyewitness accounts. In environments where access is limited and communications are disrupted, independent verification can be challenging. Nonetheless, hospital admissions and casualty reports provide tangible indicators of the immediate human cost of these strikes.
Outlook and immediate priorities
In the short term, medical teams will prioritise treatment of the wounded and the recovery of the deceased while attempting to maintain lifesaving services under strain. Diplomatic channels must contend with renewed tensions as parties trade accusations over violations of temporary pauses. Ensuring the safety of civilians and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid remain urgent objectives for local and international actors.
As investigations and reporting proceed, key questions will focus on whether mediator efforts can be reinforced and how protection measures for civilians and critical infrastructure can be improved. The recent strikes underscore the fragility of pauses in violence and the pressing need for mechanisms that can reliably reduce harm to noncombatants.