At least two Palestinian children and a woman were killed by Israeli fire in western Gaza City, according to Palestinian medics. Unconfirmed local reports suggest an Israel-backed Palestinian militia conducted a raid, prompting Israeli military shelling and air strikes after the operation was discovered. A third child died in a separate incident in central Gaza.
Videos from Gaza City depicted chaotic scenes with the sounds of gunfire and the aftermath of air strikes. Initial Palestinian reports stated that a special Israeli unit infiltrated a crowded area using a van and motorcycles. It remains unclear if Israeli forces or members of an Israel-backed militia were involved. A local source indicated to the BBC that a senior Hamas security official was believed to have been the target.
Israeli Military Response
The Israeli military reportedly launched drone strikes to secure the special unit after its presence was uncovered. The military confirmed striking "several targets in Gaza in order to remove threats to the security forces," and stated that no Israeli troops were injured.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the arrest of a senior Hamas official, though it is not explicitly clear if this arrest is connected to the events in Gaza City.