Gaza strikes kill 10 as diplomatic ceasefire efforts stall

Israeli air strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, targeting a municipal police headquarters in Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported receiving nine bodies following the attack on the police post, with 15 others wounded. A separate strike on Nuseirat refugee camp killed one Palestinian, bringing the total death toll for the day to at least 10.

The victims of the Gaza City strike included the newly appointed Gaza City police chief, the director of a women’s police force, and several officers. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported that the bombardment occurred during a busy period near a park crowded with civilians, including children. The Israeli military claimed it had targeted Hamas commanders in both the Nuseirat and Tuffah areas of Gaza City, though it provided no evidence of the individuals' affiliations.

Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, condemned the incidents as a "new war crime." In a statement, the group rejected Israeli claims that the strikes targeted "resistance leaders," describing them as "baseless and false allegations used to justify its aggression and cover up its deliberate targeting of civilian police and unarmed civilians." Hamas also accused the Israeli government of deliberately undermining diplomatic efforts and pushing towards reigniting the war against the population of the Gaza Strip.

The attacks occurred two days after US envoy Jared Kushner visited the region to push for a ceasefire deal. Kushner’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to break a diplomatic deadlock after Netanyahu rejected a withdrawal agreement in exchange for Hamas disarming. Following the meeting, Kushner reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and threatened that Hamas must disarm or the US would support Israel to "finish the job in the appropriate way."

The latest strikes follow a deadly incident on Tuesday, when Israeli attacks killed seven people, including a child, and wounded 14 others at a crowded cafe on Gaza City’s harbour. According to the Wafa news agency, the city’s port has been turned into a displacement camp. The Israeli military had previously claimed, without providing evidence, that it had targeted Hamas commanders in the enclave during that incident as well.