Three Palestinians were killed in Israel’s latest attacks in the southern Gaza Strip, as violence continues despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2023, Gaza sources reported. In a separate incident, the police chief of Khan Younis was assassinated in a targeted shooting.
According to local sources, an Israeli quadcopter drone struck Khan Younis on Monday, killing Wissam Abdullah Salem al-Amour, Mahmoud Subhi Breika, and Atef Samir al-Bayouk. A Palestinian woman was also reportedly wounded by Israeli gunfire in the al-Batn al-Sameen area.
The attacks followed a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip on Monday. Since October 10, when a ceasefire was implemented, Gaza authorities report that Israeli forces have violated the truce more than 1,193 times, resulting in over 440 deaths and more than 1,200 injuries.
The ongoing war, which began in October 2023, has devastated Gaza, leaving more than 71,400 people dead—mostly women and children—and over 171,000 injured. Homes, hospitals, schools, and essential infrastructure across the enclave have been severely damaged or destroyed.
Police Chief Assassinated
In a related incident, Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Astal, the police chief of Khan Younis, was killed in a targeted shooting in the al-Mawasi area along Gaza’s coast, west of the city.
Gaza’s Ministry of Interior said Al-Astal was shot from a vehicle whose occupants fled the scene, describing the attackers as “agents of the occupation.”
Authorities suggested that the killing was likely carried out by members of an anti-Hamas militia working in coordination with Israeli forces. Security services have launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators.
Al-Astal, 40, was the latest high-ranking officer to be targeted; his death comes roughly a month after the assassination of Ahmed Zamzam, another Interior Ministry officer, in the Maghazi refugee camp. Gaza authorities previously linked Zamzam’s killing to collaborators acting on behalf of Israeli forces.
The incidents highlight the continued volatility in southern Gaza, with attacks escalating even after months of ceasefire agreements and ongoing international calls for restraint.
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