Three Palestinians were killed and a woman wounded after an Israeli quadcopter drone struck Khan Younis, Gaza sources said. The victims were named as Wissam Abdullah Salem al-Amour, Mahmoud Subhi Breika and Atef Samir al-Bayouk. Separately, Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Astal, Khan Younis' police chief, was assassinated in a drive-by shooting that Gaza’s Interior Ministry blamed on "agents of the occupation," and a militia later claimed responsibility. Gaza authorities report continued ceasefire violations and substantial casualties since October 2023.
Quadcopter Strike in Khan Younis Kills Three; Police Chief Assassinated in Drive-By
A Palestinian worker involved in a rubble management project works in the destruction caused by Israel in Khan Younis in southern Gaza [File: AFP]
Three Palestinians were killed and a woman wounded in southern Gaza's Khan Younis on Monday after an Israeli quadcopter drone struck the area, Gaza-based sources told Al Jazeera.
Sources said the same wave of Israeli gunfire wounded a Palestinian woman in the al-Batn al-Sameen neighbourhood of Khan Younis. Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the three men killed as Wissam Abdullah Salem al-Amour, Mahmoud Subhi Breika and Atef Samir al-Bayouk.
Wider Military Activity
The reported quadcopter strike came amid a broader round of Israeli army operations on Monday that included air raids and artillery shelling across multiple parts of the Gaza Strip, local sources said.
Gaza health authorities and other Gaza-based offices say the conflict that began in October 2023 has caused catastrophic casualties and damage. Those authorities report more than 71,400 people killed — predominantly women and children — and over 171,000 injured, with homes, hospitals, schools and civilian infrastructure heavily damaged or destroyed. These figures are reported by Gaza ministries and local agencies and have not been independently verified in this article.
Ceasefire Violations
Although a ceasefire came into effect on October 10, Gaza’s Ministry of Health says strikes have nevertheless continued, reporting more than 440 Palestinians killed and over 1,200 wounded since the truce took effect. The Government Media Office in Gaza additionally reported that Israeli forces violated the ceasefire at least 1,193 times between October 10 and Friday, citing continued attacks by air, artillery and gunfire. These counts are provided by Gaza authorities.
Assassination of Khan Younis Police Chief
Separately, Gaza’s Ministry of Interior reported that Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Astal, the police chief of Khan Younis, was fatally shot in the al-Mawasi area along Gaza’s coast west of the city. The ministry said gunmen fired from a vehicle that fled the scene and described the attackers as "agents of the occupation."
Security services have opened an investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The Interior Ministry suggested the assailants are likely members of an anti-Hamas militia operating with or alongside Israeli forces. A militia leader active in areas under Israeli control later claimed responsibility for the killing.
The ministry noted the killing follows a similar targeted attack about a month earlier, when Ahmed Zamzam, an officer in Gaza’s Interior Ministry, was shot dead in the Maghazi refugee camp. Gaza authorities then said their investigation pointed to the involvement of collaborators working with Israel.
Note: Casualty and incident figures cited in this report are attributed to Gaza ministries and local agencies. Independent verification of these numbers and of responsibility for individual attacks has not been presented in the sources used for this article.
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