Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza on Friday, including three civilian bystanders, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.
Israeli strikes targeted police vehicles and homes across Gaza
An attack on a police vehicle in Khan Younis killed eight people, three of whom were civilians, while a separate strike in Gaza City killed two police officers. Two additional fatalities occurred in the bombing of a house in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said the Khan Younis attack followed police intervention to break up a local fight.
Ceasefire violations continue despite October truce
The killings occurred amid a ceasefire brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump that took effect in October 2024. Since the truce, Israeli attacks have killed at least 984 Palestinians and injured 2,235 others, per Gaza health authorities. This week alone, Israeli strikes killed five people, including three children, on Wednesday.
Overall toll exceeds 7% of Gaza’s population
The cumulative death toll from the war, which began in October 2023, has surpassed 72,500, with over 172,000 injured. This represents more than 7% of Gaza’s pre-war population of two million. Thousands remain missing and are presumed buried under rubble. Leading rights groups and UN investigators have concluded the Israeli military campaign amounts to genocide.
Why is Israel continuing attacks despite the ceasefire?
The source does not specify Israel’s rationale for continuing strikes during the ceasefire. Gaza’s Ministry of Interior accuses Israel of systematically targeting police forces to undermine security and aid distribution, which it links to increased looting and hunger.
What has been the international response to these attacks?
Gaza’s Ministry of Interior has called on the international community to intervene, arguing that silence on the targeting of civilian police constitutes complicity with Israeli actions under international law. The source does not detail specific responses from other nations or organizations.
