At least two Palestinian children and a woman were killed by Israeli fire during a raid in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood, medics said.
Local sources claim an Israel‑backed Palestinian militia carried out the raid, after which the Israeli military shellled the area and launched air strikes in an effort to remove perceived threats.
A separate incident in central Gaza left a third child dead, raising concerns for civilian safety amid the escalating violence.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that a senior Hamas official had been arrested, though officials did not clarify whether the arrest was linked to the Gaza City raids or the subsequent air strikes.
Video footage from Gaza City shows chaotic scenes: gunfire, smoke, and buildings damaged by bombs. An undercover Israeli unit allegedly infiltrated a crowded area on a van and motorcycles; whether these were Israeli forces or members of an Israel‑backed militia remains unclear.
The Israeli military reported that drone strikes were mounted to secure the area after the raid was uncovered. It added that the strikes were aimed at removing threats to its security forces and that its troops suffered no injuries.
