Hamas Condemns Gaza Strikes as Ceasefire Violations While Aid Groups Face Expulsion Threat
At least six Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli drone strikes targeting police posts in central and southern Gaza, as the Gaza war continues despite an ongoing ceasefire phase.
Medical sources at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis confirmed that four bodies and several wounded people arrived after a strike hit a police checkpoint at the al-Maslakh intersection in al-Mawasi, an area outside direct Israeli military control. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
In a separate attack, two more people were killed when a drone strike targeted a police post at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
Hamas Accuses Israel of Violating Ceasefire
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the attacks, saying they reflect Israel’s “blatant disregard for mediator efforts” and ongoing violations of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10. He argued that the continued strikes demonstrate a lack of commitment to halting the war.
According to reports from Gaza City, Israeli forces have increasingly targeted police checkpoints, particularly in areas near eastern Khan Younis and Bureij. Analysts suggest the strikes may be aimed at preventing the re-establishment of local administrative or security services.
Israel has previously stated it does not intend to oversee civilian governance in Gaza, raising questions about how basic services will function amid the conflict.
Limited Movement Through Rafah Crossing
The Gaza Crossings and Borders Authority reported that 50 Palestinians exited through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Thursday, including 13 patients seeking medical treatment and 37 companions. Meanwhile, 41 people returned to Gaza.
Aid entry remains limited. Officials said 286 trucks entered Gaza on Thursday, including 112 carrying humanitarian assistance—well below the estimated 600 trucks per day needed to meet basic needs during Ramadan and amid ongoing shortages.
Aid Groups Face Expulsion Deadline
Separately, 37 international aid organizations have been ordered by Israel to halt operations unless they provide personal details of Palestinian staff by March 1.
Seventeen NGOs—including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International—have challenged the directive in Israel’s Supreme Court. They argue that complying could endanger staff, compromise humanitarian neutrality, and violate data protection laws.
Oxfam warned that forced closures could begin within days, potentially triggering a wider collapse of the humanitarian response system in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
With Gaza strikes continuing and aid operations under pressure, concerns are mounting over the worsening humanitarian crisis and the fragile state of the ceasefire.
Source: Al Jazeera