Israeli Military Carries Out ‘Targeted Strike’ in Central Gaza

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it had conducted a “targeted strike” in central Gaza against a man who was allegedly planning an attack on Israeli soldiers.

The strike came as a U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas remained in place, two years after the war in Gaza began. Both sides, however, have accused each other of violating the truce.

According to Israel, the strike targeted a member of the Islamic Jihad group. On Sunday, the Palestinian militant organization denied the Israeli claim that it was preparing an attack, calling it “a baseless accusation.” It did not specify whether any of its members were killed in the strike.

Witnesses told Reuters they saw a drone attack a car, setting it on fire. Local doctors said four people were injured, but there were no immediate reports of fatalities.

Separately, witnesses reported that Israeli tanks shelled the eastern outskirts of Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban area. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Several Israeli media outlets reported that Israel had reversed its policy of barring foreign forces from entering Gaza, allowing Egyptian officials to enter the enclave to help locate the remains of hostages captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli communities — an assault that triggered the war.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has pledged to return all hostages taken during that attack, though the remains of 13 are still believed to be inside Gaza.

The office of the Israeli prime minister did not immediately respond to requests for comment.