Gaza City, January 16, 2026 — At least 10 Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, including senior figures from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, according to local sources on Thursday. Reuters reported the developments citing medical officials and residents in the besieged territory.
Among those killed was Ashraf al-Khatib, a senior member of the Islamic Jihad, who died in an attack in the Nuseirat area. In Gaza City, a member of the Hamas police force was also killed. Meanwhile, Hamas sources confirmed that Mohammad al-Holi, a local commander of the group’s armed wing, was killed earlier in the day in Deir al-Balah. The casualties also included a 16-year-old boy.
Hamas strongly condemned the attack on the al-Holi family, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since October and attempting to reignite the conflict. In its statement, Hamas did not explicitly mention al-Holi’s name or role.
Reuters said the Israeli military was contacted for comment, but no immediate response was received.
The latest strikes occurred just one day after the United States announced the launch of the second phase of ceasefire talks. Despite the truce, Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaches. Since the ceasefire took effect in October, more than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed.
