The latest Israeli attack killed police officer Jamal Abu Kamil in Gaza City and another person in Khan Yunis.
Published August 13, 2026
The head of Gaza City’s civilian police force has been killed in an Israeli drone attack.
Gaza’s Interior Ministry said Thursday that Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, 43, was killed and two others injured when a drone fired three missiles at his vehicle on Al Rashid Street, southwest of Gaza City.
Recommended stories
list of two itemsend of list
The killing came a day after Israel ended a week-long hiatus in air attacks. The moratorium did not end deadly ground attacks, as Israel continues to violate the so-called “ceasefire” agreed in October.
The Israeli military said it targeted Abu Kamil to “eliminate a threat” and claimed, without providing evidence, that he was a Hamas commander.
Gaza police denied the allegations and issued a statement saying Abu Kamil was “dedicated to his police duties and has no connection with any other activities.”
Gaza’s interior ministry said Abu Kamil was “assassinated” in an Israeli attack.
Hamas also condemned the killing in a statement, calling it a “continuation of the brutal crimes committed against our Palestinian people under occupation” and a “pathetic and failed attempt to spread chaos and lawlessness in the Gaza Strip.”
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli forces attacked a motorbike on which two people were riding in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, killing one and seriously injuring another. Israel has made similar claims, without providing evidence, that it is targeting Hamas commanders.
Strike resumes
On Wednesday, Israel carried out its first airstrike in the Gaza Strip since August 3, hitting a vehicle in Beit Rahiya, killing one city worker and wounding five others.
Israel had suspended airstrikes for more than a week under pressure from the United States after President Donald Trump announced a “major milestone” in his plan to end the war.
President Trump announced last month that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a 15-point plan to be implemented by the Gaza Peace Committee, under which Israeli forces would withdraw and Hamas would disarm.
Hamas said it accepted the deal to avoid a return to all-out war, but insisted its implementation depended on Israel first withdrawing its troops and halting attacks.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his rejection of the deal on Sunday, saying Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas was “truly disarmed.” Three days later, air strikes resumed.
Almost daily attacks by Israel have killed more than 1,250 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry announced.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreigners called for the implementation of the US-backed Gaza peace plan and condemned Israeli military attacks on Palestinians returning to Gaza and continued attacks on settlers in the occupied West Bank.
