Israeli Strikes and Gaza Clashes Leave at Least 10 Dead, Local Officials Say

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in central Gaza following Israeli air strikes and fighting between Hamas forces and a Palestinian militia reportedly backed by Israel, according to local officials and medical staff.

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The violence occurred east of the Maghazi refugee camp, where Hamas security personnel were said to have clashed with members of the militia. Israeli strikes were later reported in the same area, although it remains unclear how many of the fatalities resulted from the air strikes and how many from the ground fighting.

Medical officials at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported receiving the bodies of 10 people from the scene. Dozens more were injured, with some reported to be in critical condition.

Neither the Israeli military nor Hamas issued immediate statements on the incident.

Fighting Near Maghazi

Witnesses said the confrontation began when militia members established a checkpoint east of the Maghazi refugee camp. Hamas security personnel allegedly attacked the position, triggering an exchange of fire between the two groups.

According to local accounts, Israeli drones later carried out strikes targeting Hamas personnel at three locations in the area. Witnesses said the drone attacks appeared to support the militia during the clashes.

The precise sequence of events remains difficult to verify independently.

Ceasefire Under Strain

The violence comes amid continuing tensions surrounding a ceasefire agreed nearly six months ago between Israel and Hamas. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the truce.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 723 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the territory since the ceasefire took effect.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, says five of its soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinian groups during the same period.

Disarmament Dispute

Efforts to advance the next stage of a peace initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump have stalled in part over disagreements about the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups.

Last week, a Hamas delegation met mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Cairo to discuss a proposal from the US-led Peace Board calling for Palestinian factions to dismantle their weapons.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing rejected the proposal, saying disarmament could not be considered until Israel fulfilled its obligations under the first phase of the plan.

“We will not accept raising the issue of weapons in this crude manner,” said Abu Ubaida, referring to Israel.

He added that what Israel had failed to achieve through military force would not be achieved through political negotiations.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that Hamas would be disarmed, either through peaceful means or through force.

Wider Regional Tensions

In his remarks, Abu Ubaida also linked the conflict in Gaza with broader regional hostilities involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.

He praised missile, drone and rocket attacks on Israel carried out by Iranian forces and by Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen, describing them as an extension of Hamas’s fight.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Israel subsequently launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. According to the territory’s health ministry, more than 72,300 people have been killed since the conflict began.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 7 April 2026