Hamas condemns 'new war crime' as Israel kills 10 in crowded Gaza hubs
Al Jazeera
β’Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:14:21 +0000
π° What Happened
Israeli strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians in two attacks on 19 August 2026, one targeting the municipal police headquarters in Gaza City and another on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital said they received nine bodies from the Gaza City attack, with another 15 people wounded, and the casualties included a newly appointed Gaza City police chief and the director of a women's police force. The Israeli army said it had struck Hamas commanders, but Hamas condemned the attacks as "a new war crime" and rejected Israel's justifications.
π The Backstory
The strikes come amid an ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas governs, with civilians frequently caught up in crowded areas and repeated allegations of high civilian casualties.
π― Why It Matters
The strikes add to the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza and intensify accusations of war crimes, hardening positions in the Israel-Hamas conflict and complicating any push toward rebuilding or negotiation.
Israeli strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians in two attacks on 19 August 2026, one targeting the municipal police headquarters in Gaza City and another on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital said they received nine bodies from the Gaza City attack, with another 15 people wounded, and the casualties included a newly appointed Gaza City police chief and the director of a women's police force. The Israeli army said it had struck Hamas commanders, but Hamas condemned the attacks as "a new war crime" and rejected Israel's justifications.
The strikes come amid an ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas governs, with civilians frequently caught up in crowded areas and repeated allegations of high civilian casualties.
The strikes add to the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza and intensify accusations of war crimes, hardening positions in the Israel-Hamas conflict and complicating any push toward rebuilding or negotiation.