Gaza Strikes Keep Post-War Talks Under Pressure as Israel Targets Hamas Figures

LONDON | Israeli strikes in Gaza kept post-war diplomacy under pressure Sunday, with Gaza health officials reporting at least eight Palestinians killed while Israel said it had targeted militants and Hamas figures.

Reuters reported that strikes hit locations including a police post, a tent encampment in Khan Younis and a community kitchen near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Israel said it targeted militants and a Hamas commander involved in anti-tank missile development.

Hamas also confirmed the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of its armed wing in Gaza, in a Friday strike, Reuters reported. Israel’s military said another senior Hamas figure, Bahaa Baroud, was killed in a precise strike on his car in Gaza City and described him as an imminent threat.

The humanitarian and diplomatic stakes remain high because indirect negotiations over a U.S.-backed post-war plan for Gaza remain stalled. Reuters reported that Hamas has not disarmed or facilitated Israeli withdrawal, two core issues at the center of post-war discussions.

Casualty figures in active conflict zones can be politically and logistically difficult to verify independently. CGN is attributing deaths to Gaza health officials and Israeli targeting claims to the Israeli military, without independently confirming battlefield details.

For civilians in Gaza, the continuation of strikes means the conflict’s end state remains unclear even after ceasefire efforts. For Israel, the stated focus remains Hamas military leadership and security threats. For diplomats, each new strike can complicate negotiations and deepen mistrust.

The confirmed story is that strikes occurred, Gaza health officials reported at least eight deaths, and Israel said it targeted militants. The unresolved issue is whether the post-war framework can advance while operations continue.

Additional Reporting By: Reuters