An Israeli combat drone targeted a civilian vehicle near the Maghazi refugee camp in Deir el-Balah on Friday, killing three Palestinian police officers and wounding several others, according to Palestinian officials. The attack has intensified scrutiny of ongoing hostilities despite a months-long ceasefire agreement.
Attack Details and Official Condemnation
Palestine’s Ministry of the Interior and National Security confirmed the fatalities, identifying the deceased as Captain Mansour Sami Shahtout, Captain Mohammed Khaled Nofal, and First Sergeant Mahdi Nader Jabr. The ministry stated that the officers’ vehicle was “treacherously bombed by the Israeli occupation forces.”
Witness video footage showed a civilian car engulfed in flames on Salah al-Din Street, near the camp’s entrance. Palestine’s Wafa news agency reported that an Israeli combat drone carried out the strike, while Anadolu news agency said the drone fired at least two missiles, causing the vehicle to catch fire. The bodies were transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah.
“The Ministry of Interior condemns the heinous crime committed by the occupation in targeting civil police personnel, an act that demonstrates a persistent intent to spread chaos across the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said in a statement on Telegram. It renewed calls for international pressure to halt repeated attacks on police forces and resources.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The US-brokered ceasefire, in effect since October 10, 2025, has been marred by persistent violations. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Anadolu on Friday that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, accusing Israel of restricting humanitarian aid and expanding a so-called “yellow line” into new areas of Gaza, accompanied by displacement and home demolitions.
Qassem said consultations are underway with Palestinian factions and regional mediators to secure full implementation of the agreement. A delegation is expected in Cairo soon to respond to new proposals presented by Board of Peace envoy Nikolay Mladenov, which Qassem described as “different approaches” currently under review.
“We hope the efforts of the mediators and Mr. Mladenov will lead to compelling the occupation to implement what was agreed upon, particularly the humanitarian provisions of the first phase, and then move to the second phase with all its complexities,” Qassem said.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Qassem warned against a repeat of what he called a “starvation policy” imposed on Gaza’s population, urging mediators to take a clear stance and facilitate the entry of a national committee to begin genuine relief and reconstruction. “We do not want the starvation policy imposed on our people to be repeated while the world remains a spectator. Nor should the killing and destruction continue while the world watches,” he said.
The latest strike underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing risks faced by civilians and civil defense personnel in the enclave, as diplomatic efforts struggle to bridge widening gaps between the parties.
