Israeli fire kills at least 26 people in Gaza, hits a police station

An Israeli airstrike hit a police station near a market in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens more, according to local health officials.

The police station, located in Jabalia, was struck by two missiles, medics said. The identities of those killed were not immediately known.

The Israeli military confirmed it had carried out an airstrike in the area. In a statement, it said it targeted a command and control center used by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, describing it as a hub for coordinating attacks on Israeli forces.

Israel accused the militant groups of operating within civilian infrastructure — a claim Hamas and other factions have repeatedly denied.

Health officials in Gaza reported that 16 other people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across the enclave on Thursday, bringing the day’s total death toll to at least 26.

Since the breakdown of a ceasefire on March 18, more than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, many of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The Israeli military has seized portions of Gaza territory, referring to it as a “buffer zone.”

Ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt, supported by the United States, have so far failed to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has killed over 51,300 people, created a massive humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement.

Hamas’ cross-border raid into Israeli territory claimed 1,200 lives. It also took more than 251 people captive.