Israeli drones struck two sites in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least eight Palestinians – five police officers and three civilians, including a child – according to local medical and interior authorities. The attacks, which involved missile strikes from aerial platforms, escalated the humanitarian toll in a region that has witnessed more than 1,580 Palestinian casualties since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025.
The first strike targeted the al‑Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. An Israeli drone launched a missile at a group of police personnel and civilians. The Nasser Medical Complex reported five deaths and several serious injuries. Gaza’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that five members of the General Directorate of Police were killed while “performing routine duties” in al‑Mawasi. The ministry notes that Israeli attacks have killed 75 police officers since the October 2025 ceasefire.
In the second incident, an Israeli drone struck the al‑Rimal neighbourhood, west of Gaza City. The attack hit a commercial mall and a gathering of civilians. Al‑Shifa Hospital sources said three Palestinians, including a four‑year‑old boy, were killed and six others wounded, some critically. The strike also struck the Taj Mall, adding to the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Electromagnetic definitions of airstrike include a hostile attack on a target from an aircraft, typically involving missiles or bombs. In both cases, Israeli forces described the missions as targeting a “terrorist” in southern Gaza.
They were targeted as they were doing their jobs,
said Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City. The Israeli army’s statement to AFP underlined the intent to strike a terrorist, though no further details were provided.
Gaza’s health authorities have recorded 5,711 wounded and 1,580 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire, bringing the cumulative toll since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023 to 74,594 dead and 175,834 wounded.
Hamas condemned the attacks as a “deliberate war crime.” In a statement, it denounced the “horrific massacre” that targeted police officers and the “bombardment of Gaza City” that killed and wounded civilians. The statement claimed that the repeated targeting of police officers while performing their duties was part of Israel’s attempt to “obstruct recovery efforts, undermine stability in the Gaza Strip, and sow chaos.”
The new strikes come amid ongoing violence despite a U.S.‑brokered ceasefire that took effect last October. Analysts note that the death toll — figures that have been closely monitored by international organizations — has grown substantially since the ceasefire, with more than one and a half thousand Palestinians killed in the final year of hostilities.
International observers have expressed concern that continued drone campaigns may violate humanitarian law, which restricts the use of force against non‑combatants and emphasizes proportionality. The recent incidents underscore the difficulty of distinguishing between combatants, police officers, and civilians in densely populated urban settings.
The Israeli Defense Forces have yet to comment further on the specific motivations behind the strikes or the operational details of the targeted missions. Local Palestinian leadership continues to call for renewed diplomatic efforts to end hostilities and protect civilian lives.
In the broader context, the attack on the Taj Mall and the civilian area in al‑Rimal represents a continuation of the pattern of civilian infrastructure damage observed post-ceasefire, raising questions about compliance with rules of engagement and the responsibilities of armed forces under international humanitarian standards.
Efforts to track casualty figures rely on local medical facilities, health ministries, and independent monitoring groups. The figures reported here originate from Gaza’s Ministry of Health and the Nasser Medical Complex, corroborated by Al Jazeera’s reporting and Xinhua’s coverage.
