Eight killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza targeting militants

Israel’s military announced that its recent airstrikes on Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir el‑Balah were aimed at “military operatives” linked to Hamas and other armed groups. The operations, carried out in the early hours of the day, targeted locations the Israeli Defense Forces identified as command centers, weapons storage sites and training facilities. Officials said the strikes were part of an ongoing campaign to degrade the militants’ operational capabilities and to prevent further attacks on Israeli territory.

The Israeli statement follows a series of escalations in the Gaza Strip, where both sides have exchanged fire for weeks. While Israel asserts the targets were strictly military, Palestinian health authorities have reported civilian casualties and damage to residential areas in the three cities. International observers have called for verification of the claims and for measures to protect civilians amid the heightened hostilities.