At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and clashes between Hamas and an Israel-backed Palestinian militia in central Gaza, according to local sources. The violence erupted after members of the Israel-backed militia established a checkpoint east of the Maghazi refugee camp, leading to an attack by Hamas security personnel and subsequent intense fighting.
A spokesperson for al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah reported that the bodies of 10 individuals were brought from the scene, with dozens more wounded and some in critical condition. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military or Hamas, but witnesses stated that Israeli drones intervened to support the militia, conducting strikes on Hamas personnel at three locations.
These incidents occur amid mutual accusations between Israel and Hamas of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreed upon almost six months ago. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 723 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since then, while the Israeli military claims five of its soldiers have died in attacks by Palestinian groups during the same period.
The issue of disarmament remains a key stumbling block for advancing to the second phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. Last week, a Hamas delegation met with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in Cairo to provide an initial response to a proposal from the U.S.-led Board of Peace for Palestinian groups to decommission their weapons. On Sunday, the spokesperson for Hamas's military wing, Abu Ubaida, rejected any discussion of disarmament before Israel fulfills its commitments under the first phase of Trump's plan.
Abu Ubaida also linked Hamas's fight in Gaza to the broader conflict between Israel and the U.S., as well as Iran and its allies. He praised missile, drone, and rocket attacks on Israel by Iranian forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, describing them as an "extension" of what Hamas initiated on October 7, 2023. The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that day, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, with Israel responding by launching a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza that has resulted in over 72,300 deaths, according to the territory's health ministry.
Source: www.bbc.com