Israel air strikes hit Gaza police hub and refugee camp, killing ten

Israeli forces carried out two separate air strikes in Gaza on Friday, targeting a police headquarters in the north and a densely populated refugee camp in the south. The attacks resulted in the deaths of ten Palestinians, according to local health officials who have been documenting casualties since the conflict intensified.

The first strike hit the police headquarters in the city of Khan Younis, a location that has become a focal point for security operations. Witnesses described a loud explosion followed by a plume of smoke, and ambulances rushed to the scene amid chaotic streets. The second bombing struck the Jabalia refugee camp, one of the most crowded settlements in the enclave, where families live in tightly packed shelters. Survivors recounted hearing a sudden roar before debris rained down, crushing homes and killing several residents.

Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, issued a statement condemning the attacks as a "new war crime" against civilians. The group accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and warned that such actions would further destabilise any prospects for a cease‑fire. Hamas called for international intervention, urging the United Nations and other bodies to investigate the incidents as potential violations of international humanitarian law.

Health officials in Gaza, operating under severe constraints, confirmed ten fatalities but could not immediately verify the full extent of injuries. The numbers come amid a broader pattern of high‑intensity strikes that have struck markets, schools and residential blocks across the territory. Humanitarian agencies have warned that the cumulative impact of repeated bombings is pushing the enclave toward a humanitarian catastrophe, with limited access to medical care, clean water and electricity.

The international community has reacted with a mix of concern and calls for restraint. Several foreign ministries have urged both sides to protect civilians and to resume diplomatic talks. Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced plans to convene an emergency session to assess the latest developments and consider possible resolutions aimed at halting the escalation.

As the conflict enters its third year, the latest casualties underscore the fragile and volatile nature of the situation in Gaza. The death toll, now rising in both the north and south of the enclave, adds pressure on regional actors to seek a durable solution that can prevent further loss of civilian life.