GAZA — At least six Palestinians have been killed in Israeli drone attacks targeting two police posts in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis in the south.The attacks overnight into Friday were condemned by Hamas as undermining mediator efforts during a “ceasefire” phase that Israel has violated almost daily since October 10.Medical sources at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis reported the arrival of four bodies and several wounded individuals following an Israeli military strike on a police checkpoint at the al-Maslakh intersection in al-Mawasi. The sources said that the strike occurred in an area outside the Israeli military’s control, and described the condition of some of the wounded as critical.In the central Gaza Strip, two Palestinians were killed and others were injured in a similar Israeli drone strike that targeted a police post at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp.Hamas has accused Israel of disregarding international mediation efforts following continued bombardment across the Gaza Strip, saying the attacks undermine attempts to stabilize the situation.Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for Hamas, said ongoing Palestinian casualties resulting from Israeli strikes demonstrate the occupation’s “blatant disregard” for mediators’ efforts and for the role of the Peace Council.In a press statement issued on Thursday, Qassem said the Israeli occupation continues the war of extermination and destruction against the Palestinian people, arguing that only the methods — not the policy itself — have changed. He added that discussions by guarantor states about a ceasefire lack tangible implementation on the ground.According to figures cited by Hamas, Israeli forces have killed 650 Palestinians since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, including 198 children and 85 women, and wounded 1,662 others during repeated violations.The statement further noted that since the start of the war of extermination on 7October 2023, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed, around 172,000 injured and more than 8,000 reported missing. It also said widespread destruction has affected approximately 90 percent of civilian infrastructure, with United Nations estimates placing reconstruction costs at about $70 billion.The Gaza Crossings and Borders Authority on Friday reported that 50 Palestinians travelled through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Thursday including 13 patients and 37 companions., while 41 citizens returned to to Gaza.There has been a trickle of human movement in either direction since Israel partially opened the crossing. Thousands of Palestinians require urgent medical attention outside of the devastated enclave but Israel is severely restricting their exit.The authority also reported 286 trucks entered Gaza Thursday, including 174 commercial trucks and 112 carrying aid. That’s far below the 600 aid truck required daily to meet the needs of a population still suffering hunger, and a painful Ramadan, due to Israel’s blockade.Meanwhile, Israel has ordered 37 aid groups to halt operations in the occupied territory unless they hand over personal details about Palestinian staff by this Sunday, March 1 – a move described as having potentially devastating consequences for Palestinians.The organisations warn that complying could put employees at risk, compromise humanitarian neutrality and violate European data protection rules.Seventeen international NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International, have challenged the order in Israel’s Supreme Court, saying they could be forced to stop operations.Abu Azzoum said, “This could mark a major turning point for the humanitarian response system in Gaza.” Aid groups may be forced to suspend operations entirely if the order stands, he added.Oxfam International said on Tuesday that the forced closure of aid operations in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory could begin as early as Saturday.“The effect would be immediate, extending well beyond individual organisations to the wider humanitarian system,” Oxfam warned.“In Gaza, families remain dependent on external assistance amid continuing restrictions on aid entry and renewed strikes in densely populated areas,” it said in a statement.“In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, military incursions, demolitions, displacement, settlement expansion and settler violence are driving rising humanitarian needs,” it added. — AgenciesGAZA — At least six Palestinians have been killed in Israeli drone attacks targeting two police posts in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis in the south.The attacks overnight into Friday were condemned by Hamas as undermining mediator efforts during a “ceasefire” phase that Israel has violated almost daily since October 10.Medical sources at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis reported the arrival of four bodies and several wounded individuals following an Israeli military strike on a police checkpoint at the al-Maslakh intersection in al-Mawasi. The sources said that the strike occurred in an area outside the Israeli military’s control, and described the condition of some of the wounded as critical.In the central Gaza Strip, two Palestinians were killed and others were injured in a similar Israeli drone strike that targeted a police post at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp.Hamas has accused Israel of disregarding international mediation efforts following continued bombardment across the Gaza Strip, saying the attacks undermine attempts to stabilize the situation.Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for Hamas, said ongoing Palestinian casualties resulting from Israeli strikes demonstrate the occupation’s “blatant disregard” for mediators’ efforts and for the role of the Peace Council.In a press statement issued on Thursday, Qassem said the Israeli occupation continues the war of extermination and destruction against the Palestinian people, arguing that only the methods — not the policy itself — have changed. He added that discussions by guarantor states about a ceasefire lack tangible implementation on the ground.According to figures cited by Hamas, Israeli forces have killed 650 Palestinians since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, including 198 children and 85 women, and wounded 1,662 others during repeated violations.The statement further noted that since the start of the war of extermination on 7October 2023, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed, around 172,000 injured and more than 8,000 reported missing. It also said widespread destruction has affected approximately 90 percent of civilian infrastructure, with United Nations estimates placing reconstruction costs at about $70 billion.The Gaza Crossings and Borders Authority on Friday reported that 50 Palestinians travelled through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Thursday including 13 patients and 37 companions., while 41 citizens returned to to Gaza.There has been a trickle of human movement in either direction since Israel partially opened the crossing. Thousands of Palestinians require urgent medical attention outside of the devastated enclave but Israel is severely restricting their exit.The authority also reported 286 trucks entered Gaza Thursday, including 174 commercial trucks and 112 carrying aid. That’s far below the 600 aid truck required daily to meet the needs of a population still suffering hunger, and a painful Ramadan, due to Israel’s blockade.Meanwhile, Israel has ordered 37 aid groups to halt operations in the occupied territory unless they hand over personal details about Palestinian staff by this Sunday, March 1 – a move described as having potentially devastating consequences for Palestinians.The organisations warn that complying could put employees at risk, compromise humanitarian neutrality and violate European data protection rules.Seventeen international NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International, have challenged the order in Israel’s Supreme Court, saying they could be forced to stop operations.Abu Azzoum said, “This could mark a major turning point for the humanitarian response system in Gaza.” Aid groups may be forced to suspend operations entirely if the order stands, he added.Oxfam International said on Tuesday that the forced closure of aid operations in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory could begin as early as Saturday.“The effect would be immediate, extending well beyond individual organisations to the wider humanitarian system,” Oxfam warned.“In Gaza, families remain dependent on external assistance amid continuing restrictions on aid entry and renewed strikes in densely populated areas,” it said in a statement.“In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, military incursions, demolitions, displacement, settlement expansion and settler violence are driving rising humanitarian needs,” it added. — Agencies
