An Israeli airstrike on the municipal police headquarters in Gaza City killed nine people on Wednesday, according to Gaza health officials. The strike, part of ongoing hostilities despite recent diplomatic efforts, also wounded at least 20 individuals. Gaza’s civil defense agency, operating under Hamas, confirmed the casualties and reported that among the dead were a woman and a young girl.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas commander who was allegedly planning attacks against Israeli troops in the area. In addition to the Gaza City incident, Israeli forces conducted a separate strike in Nuseirat, central Gaza, aimed at a commander in Hamas’s military wing. The military emphasized that it took measures to minimize harm to civilians, including using precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
The violence continues amid renewed U.S. attempts to advance a long-term peace plan for Gaza. Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, said progress toward disarming Hamas and implementing the peace initiative could begin within a month after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas had recently endorsed the latest stage of Trump’s plan, but Netanyahu has rejected the roadmap, insisting Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned the Israeli strikes, accusing Israel of disregarding ceasefire calls and faulting the U.S.-led Board of Peace for failing to pressure Israel to comply with its commitments. A Hamas official also indicated that continued Israeli targeted attacks could influence the group’s stance on the ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
The exchange of hostilities has resulted in significant casualties. Since the ceasefire agreement last October, Gaza health officials report over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed, while the Israeli military cites the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in the region. A recent Israeli airstrike on a beachfront café killed at least seven Palestinians, including a child, with Israel stating the targets were Hamas leaders planning attacks.
In a related development, Israel's military announced it will open internal investigations into several high-profile killings in Gaza, including the deaths of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in January 2024 and 15 emergency and aid workers in March 2025. The investigations follow previous probes by Israel’s Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, which found no basis for criminal investigations in some cases. Human rights organizations, however, maintain that such investigations rarely lead to convictions and criticize political pressures that impede accountability.
The military’s announcement referenced the incident involving Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car for hours during an Israeli offensive following a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Despite repeated calls for medical help, Rajab and her family members died before their bodies were recovered 12 days later.
The conflict and its aftermath have drawn international concern. Recent remarks by Israel’s far-right national security minister, calling for nightly killings of dozens in Gaza, sparked condemnation from Germany and France. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the comments as violations of international law and unacceptable, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot labeled them “intolerable and inhumane.” European officials, including Germany’s finance minister Lars Klingbeil, signaled that sanctions against the minister are under consideration at the EU level.