An Israeli airstrike on Saturday in the northern Gaza Strip killed five police officers and one child, according to Gaza’s police force and civil defense officials operating under Hamas authority. The attack targeted a police site in the al-Tuam area, where two missiles struck a tent used by the police near a checkpoint, a witness reported.

The al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving six bodies, including those of five police officers and a child born in 2011. An AFP correspondent at the hospital observed at least three bodies wrapped in white shrouds. Gaza’s police said in a statement that the strike resulted in the deaths of five of their officers.

An Israeli military source described the operation as a targeted strike against “Hamas terrorists” in the area. Although a ceasefire has been in place since October, Israel maintains the right to conduct strikes against targets it considers a threat. Despite the truce, the Gaza Strip continues to experience frequent violence, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

The Hamas-run interior ministry reported that 42 police officers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began on October 10. In response to the latest incident, Hamas condemned the strike as a “crime” aimed at causing chaos within the territory.

Since the October truce took effect, Gaza’s health ministry has reported at least 890 Palestinian deaths. The ministry operates under Hamas authority, and its figures are generally recognized as reliable by the United Nations. Due to restrictions on media access and the complex security situation, independent verification of casualty figures and detailed coverage of ongoing hostilities in Gaza remains challenging.