Israeli strikes kill four in Gaza as military arrests Hamas militant

On Tuesday, Israel conducted airstrikes in Gaza following the arrest of a Hamas militant, resulting in the deaths of at least three Palestinians, including two children, according to Gaza officials. The operation, which aimed to apprehend a senior Hamas militant, was detected by Hamas, prompting the retaliatory strikes. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the arrest, while Hamas official Ismail Al-Thawabta claimed that a special force was attempting to carry out an operation in Gaza City before being discovered.

The detained individual is reportedly the head of Hamas's internal security service. Witnesses reported that Israeli warplanes struck the Katiba area, an area densely populated with displaced families, firing at least 12 missiles. Among the casualties were two children, a woman, and several others were wounded. Two vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

In a separate incident, a girl named Israa Al-Hissi was killed, and two others were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on a location east of Deir Al-Balah. This event occurred amid a US-backed ceasefire that aimed to halt the large-scale fighting between Israel and Hamas, although Israeli strikes have continued since the agreement.

Over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began in October last year, according to Gaza health officials, while the Israeli military claims four soldiers have been killed in militant attacks during the same period.