Israel escalates Gaza offensive, killing militants and causing civilian deaths

The Israeli military reported killing several senior militants in the Gaza Strip, including Mahmud Fatair of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who was linked to a recent hostage abduction, and four Hamas fighters involved in the Oct. 7 attacks. The army also destroyed five Hamas weapons caches, some located near the Al‑Aqsa Martyr Hospital in Deir al‑Balah.

Separate airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 15 Palestinians, among them two couples and two children, in Gaza City, Deir al‑Balah and the Chan Junis area. Israeli officials said the strikes targeted a Hamas special‑unit command post and other military sites.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Israel will continue to press Hamas to surrender its arms, doubting any cease‑fire will be reached, and noted that Israeli forces now control roughly 70% of the Gaza Strip. He referenced a U.S.‑backed plan to dismantle Hamas. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing that Israeli forces will withdraw only after full disarmament. Egypt, Qatar and Turkey condemned the attacks, especially the strikes on medical facilities.