At least eight Palestinians were killed Sunday in fresh Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, according to local medical officials, as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to be stalling.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel strengthening its military operations in the Palestinian enclave after suspending its joint bombing campaign with the United States against Iran. Despite the Israeli army controlling more than half of the territory, Hamas continues to maintain a strong presence there.
According to Gaza health officials, an Israeli airstrike killed a man near a police station and another person in a tent camp in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the territory. The Israeli army claimed to have targeted an activist who posed "an immediate threat" to its forces.
Other rescuers reported that an airstrike near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah killed at least three people in a community kitchen. The Israeli military said the attack targeted a Hamas commander involved in developing anti-tank missiles.
Three other Palestinians were also killed, according to local medical authorities: one in a shooting in Khan Younis and two others in a strike near a bakery in Deir el-Balah.
The day before, the Israeli army announced the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, described as the head of Hamas's armed wing in Gaza, during a strike carried out on Gaza City on Friday. Hamas confirmed his death but did not mention any immediate reprisals.
While discussions continue around a possible disarmament of Hamas and a lasting ceasefire, the ongoing strikes and the worsening humanitarian situation are further complicating diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
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