‘Israel’ army claims assassination of Islamic Jihad leader in central Gaza
The 'Israeli' army announced on Saturday evening that it carried out an assassination targeting a “militant from the Islamic Jihad group” in a “precision” airstrike on the al-Nuseirat area in central Gaza.
This reported killing represents another acknowledged violation since the ceasefire went into effect and marks a significant escalation that could undermine the fragile truce brokered under international auspices.
Ceasefire on the Line
The strike comes less than two weeks after a ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, following the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit, hosted under the auspices of US President Donald Trump. The agreement ended a devastating two-year conflict and initiated measures such as prisoner exchanges and limited humanitarian aid deliveries.
To reinforce the truce, the United States announced this week the establishment of a Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, staffed by 200 US troops to monitor ceasefire violations by all parties. Saturday’s strike is seen as the another real test of this US-led mechanism and presents a direct challenge to mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
In recent days, both sides have exchanged accusations of ceasefire violations. Hamas has accused 'Israel' of multiple breaches resulting in 90 Palestinian deaths, while the office of 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of delaying the return of bodies, warning that “time is running out.”
Israeli Justification
In its statement Saturday evening, the 'Israeli' army said:
“A precision strike was carried out by the Southern Command using air force jets in the al-Nuseirat area of central Gaza. The operation targeted a militant from the Islamic Jihad organization who was reportedly planning imminent attacks against Israeli forces.”
No further details were provided regarding the identity of the targeted leader or the nature of the alleged plot.
The strike follows an air attack on a school sheltering displaced civilians in al-Nuseirat just days earlier, which killed three Palestinians. Palestinian factions condemned that attack as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
