Israeli Airstrike Kills Gaza Police Chief as Fragile Ceasefire Collapses

An Israeli drone strike killed the head of the civilian police force in Gaza City. The Gaza Interior Ministry confirmed that Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, 43, was killed on Thursday when a drone fired three missiles at his vehicle on al-Rashid Street, southwest of Gaza City, wounding two other people.

Abu Kamil's death came one day after Israel ended a week-long pause in airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The pause did not halt deadly ground attacks, as Israel continued to violate the so-called "ceasefire" agreed upon in October.

The Israeli military said it targeted Abu Kamil to "eliminate a threat," accusing him of being a Hamas commander but providing no evidence. The Gaza police force rejected the accusation, stating that Abu Kamil was "devoted to police duties and not involved in other activities."

Gaza's Interior Ministry said Abu Kamil was "assassinated" in the Israeli airstrike. Hamas also condemned the incident, calling it "a continuation of the barbaric crimes committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinian people" and "a pathetic and failed attempt to sow chaos and lawlessness in the Gaza Strip."

Also on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a motorcycle carrying two people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing one and seriously wounding another. The victim was identified as Huthaifa Kawari, according to Gaza's Nasser Hospital. Israel issued a similar statement claiming it targeted a Hamas commander but provided no evidence.

Airstrikes Resume

On Wednesday, Israel carried out its first airstrike on Gaza since August 3, hitting a vehicle in Beit Lahiya, killing a municipal worker and wounding five others.

Israel had paused airstrikes for over a week under pressure from the United States after President Donald Trump declared a "major milestone" in his plan to end the war. Trump announced last month that Israel and Hamas had agreed to his 15-point plan, implemented by the Gaza Peace Council, under which Israeli forces would withdraw and Hamas would disarm.

Hamas said it accepted the deal to avoid a resurgence of full-scale war but stressed that implementation depended on Israel first withdrawing its forces and ceasing attacks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced his rejection of the deal, saying Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas "actually disarms." Three days later, airstrikes resumed.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, near-daily Israeli attacks since the "ceasefire" took effect on October 10, 2025, have killed more than 1,250 Palestinians. On the same day Thursday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called for the implementation of the US-backed Gaza Peace Plan while condemning Israeli forces' attacks on Palestinians returning to Gaza and continued settler assaults in the West Bank.