Israel strikes in Gaza kill 10, including senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures

CAIRO, January 15 (Reuters) – A senior figure from Hamas’ armed wing, a Hamas police officer and a senior figure from the Islamic Jihad militant group were among at least ten people killed in a series of Israeli attacks on Gaza on Thursday, local sources said.

Local medics and residents reported the deaths of senior Islamic Jihad operative Ashraf Al-Khatib in Nusayrat and a Hamas police officer in Gaza city. A Hamas source said local commander Mohammed Al-Qudsal was killed in Deir al-Balah earlier in the day.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

Hamas condemned the attacks on the Al-Holy family in a statement that did not mention Mohammed or his role in the group. He accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement in effect since October and trying to reignite the conflict.

Health officials said a 16-year-old child was among the dead.

The Israeli attacks took place the day after the United States announced the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday.

Israel and Hamas share blame for violations of the ceasefire and stay away from each other on important issues.

More than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire came into force in October.

Israel destroyed buildings and ordered the evacuation of residents of more than half of Gaza where its soldiers were stationed. Nearly all of the region’s more than 2 million people live in makeshift homes or damaged buildings in a small area where Israeli troops have withdrawn and Hamas has regained control.

More than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, the United Nations children’s agency said on Tuesday, including victims of drone and quadcopter attacks.

Israel launched its operations in Gaza following an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, according to Israeli calculations. Israel’s offensive killed 71,000 people and left much of Gaza in ruins, according to health officials in the region.

(Reported by: Nidal Al-MughrabiWritten by: Pesha ‌MagidQuran by: Peter Graff and Alistair Bell)