Palestinian media reported Tuesday that eight people had been killed so far in a series of Israel Defense Forces strikes in western Gaza City. Exchanges of fire also broke out in the area during the strikes, while reports circulating on Arab media claimed that a special force was operating there.
According to reports from the Gaza Strip, the strikes in western Gaza City included attacks by Israeli drones on several targets, among them a vehicle. Strikes were also reported in other parts of Gaza. Gunfire resumed a short time later, and Palestinian sources said additional bodies had been recovered, bringing the number of identified fatalities in the series of strikes to eight.
IDF striking western Gaza City. At least 12 intense explosions reported in the last few minutes. pic.twitter.com/asTnSOdesg
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Exchanges of fire broke out around the site of the strikes during the incident. Arab media reports said the strikes began amid suspicions that an Israeli special force was operating in the area. However, reports now differ over the identity of the force involved.
Against the backdrop of reports that a special force may have been involved, Al-Majd, a channel affiliated with Hamas' Internal Security apparatus, issued an unusual statement about the incident. The channel urged residents not to spread "rumors and exaggerations" about what was happening and said Hamas' leadership was closely monitoring the details of the incident.
Qatar-based Al-Araby, citing a Hamas source, reported further details about the incident in western Gaza City. According to the source, "An armed group arrived in the Al-Katiba area and opened fire on two people." The report said the incident was in fact an attempted targeted killing. It also claimed that the IDF then launched strikes to provide cover for the armed group.
