Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least eight Palestinians on Sunday, according to local health officials, as the Israel Defense Forces intensified operations targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure across the enclave.
In the weeks since Jerusalem formally ended its joint aerial campaign with the U.S. against Iran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have increased operations in Gaza. The escalation comes amid Israeli claims that Hamas is attempting to strengthen its administrative and military control across the territory, despite Israeli forces controlling more than half of Gaza.
According to local medics, one Palestinian was killed near a makeshift police post, while another died in a separate strike on a tent camp for displaced people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
In response, the Israeli military claimed its forces had “neutralised” a militant posing an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in the Khan Younis area.
Violence also spread to central Gaza. Medics said an Israeli airstrike killed at least three people at a community kitchen near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a senior Hamas commander involved in developing and distributing anti-tank missiles intended for use against Israeli forces.
Elsewhere, Gaza medical officials reported three further Palestinian deaths on Sunday. One person was killed in a shooting in Khan Younis, while two others died in an Israeli airstrike near a bakery in Deir al-Balah.
The latest casualties follow a series of Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leadership.
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced it had killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’ armed wing in Gaza. The IDF said he was killed in a “precise strike” in Gaza City on Friday.
Hamas later confirmed Haddad’s death through its official channels but did not issue its usual immediate threats of retaliation.
The Israeli military also said it had killed Bahaa Baroud, a commander in the Hamas Operations Headquarters, in a separate targeted airstrike.
According to the IDF, Baroud had been planning attacks against Israeli troops and civilians in recent weeks. The military said precautions were taken to minimise civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance.
Gaza health officials confirmed that Baroud and another person were killed when a missile struck their vehicle in Gaza City.
The escalation comes as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled.
The talks, mediated by regional powers, are aimed at advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s post-war proposal for Gaza, which seeks to end more than two years of conflict.
The plan calls for Hamas to disarm in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, though neither side has indicated a willingness to accept the terms.
According to Gaza health authorities, around 870 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the October ceasefire came into effect last year. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Over the same period, four Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed during operations in Gaza.
Hamas does not publish official casualty figures for its fighters, making independent verification difficult.
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