Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight Hamas Police Commanders Including Women's Police Chief in Gaza City

The Israeli Air Force struck a building in Gaza City that served as the headquarters for Hamas police, killing eight officers including senior commanders. According to Hamas's Interior Ministry, the attack targeted the police headquarters in the Daraj-Tuffah area and resulted in the deaths of the acting commander of the Gaza police district, the operations manager, and the head of the women's police department, Colonel Fatina Abd al-Jabar al-Sakhar, aged 42.

Among the dead was Brigadier General Ayman Mahmoud Jundia, 47, who served as the acting director of the Gaza police district. Other senior officers killed included Colonel Osama Al-Hajin, the operations manager, Colonel Ibrahim Abd al-Rahman Tamraz, Colonel Alaa Ali Alian, Lieutenant Colonel Hazem Jabr Khalaf, Major Othman Shata Abu Samaan, and Lieutenant Samaher Masbah Hamada. The strike reportedly also hit Hamas military wing commanders who were meeting to plan operations against Israeli forces.

This attack follows a recent escalation in Israeli operations targeting Hamas security and police officials. On August 13, Israeli forces killed Jamal Abu Kamil, the police chief of Gaza City. Concurrently with the Gaza City strike, another Israeli attack in Nuseirat killed Sobhi Sami Mahmoud Shata, identified by the IDF as a Hamas military commander.

Palestinian reports indicate the strikes were aimed at dismantling the command structure of Hamas police in Gaza, potentially weakening their ability to maintain control and coordinate activities on the ground. The elimination of eight senior officers, including two top commanders, marks a significant blow to Hamas's policing capabilities in the Gaza Strip.