At least 13 people have been killed in Gaza following a second consecutive night of Israeli airstrikes, occurring just days after Hamas agreed to a US-backed disarmament plan.
Gaza's Civil Defence Authority reported that Israeli military aircraft targeted Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah. The strikes come shortly after Hamas accepted a disarmament proposal to turn over its weapons to the "Board of Peace," a body established under US President Donald Trump.
In Gaza City, Palestinian health officials reported that two people, including a child, died in an attack on a residential building. Another strike near Jabalia in northern Gaza killed one person. In Khan Younis, a strike on a home killed a father, mother, and their nine-year-old son. In Deir el-Balah, a man and a woman lost their lives when their apartment block was hit.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they were targeting military operatives, claiming two Hamas militants were killed. In a social media post on X, the IDF announced the deaths of two Hamas commanders: one from the elite Nukbha force and another from the Maghazi Battalion. Additionally, the military reported killing a Jabalia Battalion militant in northern Gaza in a separate attack last week, asserting all three were planning attacks against Israeli targets.
An IDF spokesperson, Cohen, suggested that the Gaza Strip must be placed under full Israeli control if Hamas fails to disarm. This stance stands in contrast to the US-backed plan, which calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory.
President Trump announced last week that the Board of Peace had secured an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He claimed Israel was "very happy" with the deal, calling it a "big step for the Middle East." However, Israeli officials remain highly skeptical of Hamas' intentions. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rejected the draft as "not acceptable."
The plan is the second phase of a US-brokered ceasefire initiative. First introduced as a 20-point plan in September last year, it outlines the creation of the Board of Peace, Hamas' disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and Gaza's reconstruction. A 15-point roadmap released on Friday details the final implementation steps, starting a process to "inventory and store heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots, and tunnels," contingent on Israel fulfilling its initial ceasefire commitments.
Under the proposal, heavy weaponry would be moved to storage facilities managed by the Palestinian National Committee, a group of independent technocrats to whom Hamas has agreed to transfer power. This committee has been operating out of Cairo and has not yet entered Gaza. Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government, has ruled Gaza since 2007.
Since a supposed ceasefire took effect last October, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed. Satellite imagery from last November revealed that Israel has destroyed over 1,500 buildings in areas under its control since the ceasefire, with the actual total likely higher. The UN estimates that the conflict has generated approximately 60 million tonnes of debris since October 2023.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.