The Israeli military confirmed it executed an air strike in central Gaza on Saturday, targeting an individual believed to be affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. This action occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire that had been facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The fragile truce had been in effect for the past two weeks, aligning Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad against Israel. However, Israeli officials maintain their right to respond to any threats posed by militant groups.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the strike aimed at a terrorist planning an imminent attack against Israeli troops in the Nuseirat area of the Gaza Strip. The IDF described the operation as “precise” and necessary for national security.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently departed from Israel, acknowledged the complexities surrounding the ceasefire. While he did not specifically comment on the air strike, he highlighted the challenges that accompany such agreements. “Every night will bring new challenges on how to keep it together,” he remarked, expressing confidence in the progress made over the previous weeks.
Reports from the Al-Awda hospital in Gaza indicated that the facility treated four individuals injured in the aftermath of the strike. The hospital described the victims as having been harmed when Israeli forces targeted a civilian vehicle in the vicinity of the Al-Ahli Club in Nuseirat Camp.
In its statements, the Israeli military reiterated its commitment to continue operations in Gaza to eliminate any immediate threats to its personnel, signaling that tensions in the region remain precarious.
