Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of a 15-year-old boy and a civilian rescue worker, according to local officials, as hostilities in the Gaza Strip continue amid mounting international calls for a ceasefire. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hamas militants in the neighborhood, with the outcome of the latest operation under review.
The strikes occurred in the Sheikh Radwan area, where a drone attack killed Mohammed al-Zinati, a teenager, and wounded others, according to Motaz Ayyoub, a member of Gaza’s Civil Defense team. Seconds later, a second drone strike claimed the life of Sharif Labad, also a Civil Defense worker who was not on duty but had rushed to aid following the initial strike. Ayyoub said he and Labad had planned to meet prior to the attack; they were attending the funeral prayer at a local mosque when interviewed.
Separately, Israel’s military reported killing a Hamas commander in northern Gaza overnight Monday and two operatives on Monday, one in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and another in Gaza City. Late Tuesday, the military announced a strike targeting a senior Hamas figure, the commander of the Rafah Brigade in southern Gaza, with officials vowing that Hamas would not maintain a foothold in the enclave.
The recent escalation continues despite a disarmament agreement brokered by the U.S.-led Board of Peace, which had proposed Hamas's surrender of its weapons and a cessation of Israeli military activities in Gaza except in cases of immediate self-defense. Israeli officials have rejected this framework, citing security concerns. A senior Board of Peace official criticized Israel’s ongoing strikes at the United Nations, arguing they undermined efforts to demilitarize Gaza and were counterproductive to Israeli interests.
These developments coincide with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election campaign, during which he has emphasized his role in maintaining national security. Jared Kushner, the U.S. envoy and son-in-law to former President Donald Trump involved in the Board of Peace discussions, recently described Netanyahu’s government as acting “a little irrational” in the run-up to the vote.
Amid the strikes, Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for international investigators to be granted access across Gaza to recover the remains of Palestinians believed to be buried under rubble and to assist in collecting evidence relating to possible war crimes. Türk noted that remains from at least 96 individuals, including many women and children from three Palestinian families, were recovered this month, but estimates suggest thousands may still be trapped beneath the debris following extensive bombing and demolition.
Humanitarian organizations have also raised concerns about the safety of aid workers operating in Gaza. Doctors Without Borders reported that an Israeli strike on Sunday damaged one of its vehicles and injured a staff member nearby. The group condemned the attack, stating the vehicle had been clearly marked and accusing Israeli forces of disregarding the safety of medical personnel. The Israeli military confirmed the strike killed two Hamas operatives and said it had aimed to minimize civilian casualties through the use of precision strikes and aerial surveillance.
In addition to operational challenges in Gaza, the Israeli military has faced criticism at home following the release of “NAZA,” a documentary highlighting Palestinian civilian casualties during the conflict, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. Senior military officials denounced the film as containing “deliberate distortions of reality.”
At a ceremony marking the Jewish New Year, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, head of the southern command, emphasized the need for the military to uphold ethical standards by distinguishing between combatants and civilians. He acknowledged internal reviews to correct any misconduct but reaffirmed that operations would continue to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities.