Israeli fire kills three in Gaza City during reported raid, medics say
Unconfirmed local reports say the Israeli military carried out air and artillery strikes after a raid by an Israel-backed militia was discovered.
Three individuals have died in Gaza City due to Israeli fire during what is described as a raid, according to medical personnel.
A vehicle in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood was obliterated by an Israeli strike. Palestinian medics report that Israeli fire in western Gaza City has claimed the lives of at least two Palestinian children and one woman.
Unverified local accounts suggest that an Israel-supported Palestinian militia conducted a raid, followed by Israeli military shelling and airstrikes once the operation was detected. Separately, a third child was killed in an incident in central Gaza.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the arrest of a high-ranking Hamas official, though it remains uncertain if this is connected to the events in Gaza City.
Videos from Gaza City depicted disarray, featuring the sounds of gunfire and the aftermath of airstrikes. Initial Palestinian reports indicated that a specialized Israeli unit infiltrated a densely populated area using a van and motorcycles. It is unclear whether the individuals involved were Israeli forces or members of an Israel-backed Palestinian militia.
A local source informed the BBC that a senior Hamas security official was believed to be the target. The Israeli military reportedly conducted drone strikes to secure the special unit after its presence was revealed. The military has only confirmed striking multiple targets in Gaza "to eliminate threats to the security forces," stating that no injuries were sustained by its troops.
In related news, the Board of Peace's Gaza envoy has criticized both Israeli strikes and Hamas's actions. Israeli attacks have resulted in five deaths in Gaza, including two children, according to medics. The UK, Canada, and Australia have condemned Israel for declining a criminal investigation into the killings of aid workers in Gaza.