Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least five

In the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli strikes have claimed at least five lives and wounded several others, according to health officials. The al-Kateeba district, west of Gaza City, bore the brunt of a drone attack on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two children, and eight others wounded, reported a medical source at al-Shifa Hospital to Al Jazeera.

An additional strike in central Gaza claimed one more life. Hani Mahmoud, a correspondent for Al Jazeera based in Gaza City, observed a swarm of at least 13 drones in the vicinity during the attack, which lasted for 35 minutes and involved successive explosions. Mahmoud detailed the chaos caused by the intense aerial coverage and reported the presence of special forces engaged in a direct exchange of fire with Israeli security personnel.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that the strikes were carried out to safeguard Israeli forces involved in an operation to apprehend a Hamas member, who allegedly turned out to be the head of Hamas's internal security service. Unverified reports also suggested that a Hamas official confirmed the detection of an Israeli special force during a covert operation in Gaza City.

A separate Israeli attack in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, resulted in the death of at least one person, confirmed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.