In brief
Israeli forces struck a police post in northern Gaza, killing seven people in a drone attack that attracted international condemnation. The high‑command officer, Col Mohammed Marwan Salem, was among those killed, and the strike is deemed a massacre by Hamas’ interior ministry. Israeli officials list the men as security personnel and claim they were terrorists; the local police dispute this. The incident is part of a broader pattern of daily ceasefire violations that have escalated tensions in the region.
Israeli forces carried out a drone strike on a police facility in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, killing seven people, including senior officer Col Mohammed Marwan Salem, according to health and police officials. Witnesses report four missiles were fired from an airborne platform that targeted the post near a busy market.
Hamas’ interior ministry condemned the attack as a massacre and identified Marwan as the head of the local police station. Israeli statements list the victims as military security personnel, labeling three as ‘terrorists’ – Abdul Malik al-Jabin, Ghassan al-Daqas and Yaman Abu Obeida – and name two more police officers who died in the raid.
Casualties were transported to al‑Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where relatives continue to question the targeting of civilian police forces. "He was on duty – patrolling a roundabout in a civilian vehicle when he was targeted by surveillance aircraft," Mohammed Moussa told Reuters. His uncle expressed disbelief that a civilian could be targeted for a terror attack.
The strike adds to a string of daily incidents that violate the ceasefire, which was set in place last October. Earlier this week, Israeli forces hit a Hamas operative in Khan Younis and a 10‑year‑old boy named Muataz Abu Shaar was killed by gunfire near Rafah.
Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, with Hamas’ health ministry reporting over 1,110 Palestinian deaths and Israeli forces claiming four soldiers were killed in Palestinian attacks. The conflict traces back to the Hamas assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed about 1,200 civilians and captured 251 hostages, triggering Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that, according to Palestinian reports, has killed more than 73,230 people.
Further coverage – BBC News
