At least three Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to local medical sources and media reports. The fatalities occurred amid ongoing military operations, despite a US-brokered ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025.
In one incident, a strike on a tent sheltering displaced people west of Gaza City resulted in one death and multiple injuries, as confirmed by a source at Al-Shifa Hospital. A separate drone strike in the al-Mawasi area of western Khan Younis also killed one person and left others wounded, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. Additionally, a drone targeted an electric bicycle near the al-Sinaa intersection west of Gaza City, killing one individual and causing several injuries, including one critical case.
The Israeli military stated that its operations in Khan Younis were directed at Hamas fighters. In a post on X, the military claimed that a Hamas commander, allegedly involved in holding three Israeli hostages, was killed during the engagement.
Amid these developments, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed his intention to expel Palestinians from any neighborhood or area where kites or balloons are launched. Katz issued the warning during a high-level security meeting with military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and other senior officials, including the head of air defence.
“Based on the instructions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and my instructions, the Israeli army will use all necessary tools, including evacuating Gaza residents from any area or neighborhood from which [kite and balloon] launches are carried out,” Katz stated. He had previously declared on social media that such devices would be treated with the same severity as drones, regardless of whether they carry explosives, a stance that has led many Palestinian parents to restrict their children from flying kites.
Lieutenant General Zamir emphasized on Tuesday that efforts to demilitarize Gaza and disarm Hamas would proceed using all available means, notwithstanding recent US-led diplomatic initiatives to strengthen the ceasefire. Conversely, Palestinian authorities have accused Israel of undermining broader plans proposed by US President Donald Trump, which aim to end the conflict through the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the disarmament of Hamas.
Since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli strikes have resulted in more than 1,300 Palestinian deaths and over 4,000 injuries. In the same timeframe, the Israeli military has recorded five deaths among its personnel and one civilian contractor. Since the broader conflict began in October 2023, the total death toll in Gaza has surpassed 73,400, with more than 174,400 people injured. The report also notes that the ongoing Israeli attacks come despite a US-brokered “ceasefire” that came into effect in October 2025. The report also notes that deadly Israeli strikes have continued, although major fighting halted in the strip after the agreement.
