Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 68 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including key figures in the Hamas-controlled police force.

Among the deceased were the head of Gaza’s police, Mahmoud Salah, his deputy Hussam Shahwan, and nine displaced individuals at a tent camp in the Al-Mawasi district, which had been designated as a humanitarian zone.

The Israeli military described the operation as an intelligence-led strike targeting Shahwan, who allegedly oversaw Hamas’ security forces in southern Gaza, but did not acknowledge Salah’s death.

Following the attack, the Hamas-run interior ministry condemned the strike, accusing Israel of exacerbating chaos and deepening human suffering in Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, emphasized the absence of safety for civilians, stating, “As the year begins, we got… another reminder that there is no humanitarian zone let alone a safe zone” in Gaza.

In addition to the fatalities in Al-Mawasi, other airstrikes across Gaza resulted in at least 57 additional deaths, with strikes reported in Khan Younis, Jabalia refugee camp, Shati camp, Maghazi camp, and Gaza City.

The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas militants operating from a command and control center embedded in the Khan Younis municipality building.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that their operations comply with international law and that they take precautions to minimize civilian harm.

However, they accused Gaza militants of using civilian areas for cover, a claim that Hamas denies.

Meanwhile, Hamas’ ally, Islamic Jihad, launched rockets into the southern Israeli kibbutz of Holit, with the Israeli military intercepting one projectile.

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Timeline of conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza

The ongoing conflict, which escalated following Hamas’ cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has seen over 45,500 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and significant portions of the territory remain in ruins.