**Head of Hamas-led Police in Northern Gaza Killed by Israeli Air Strike**
*Gaza City, July 25, 2026* — In a significant escalation of violence, Brigadier-General Abdel-Nasser Al-Maqadma, the head of the Hamas-led police force in northern Gaza, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Saturday. The attack took place in the Sheikh Radwan area, north of Gaza City, according to reports from the Hamas-run interior ministry and local medics.
Al-Maqadma, who also held the position of governor of northern Gaza, was identified by the Israeli military as a member of Hamas' military wing. His death is part of a broader pattern of Israeli strikes targeting members of the Hamas police force, which Israel claims poses an active threat due to its affiliations with the militant group.
The air strike that killed Al-Maqadma is part of a series of attacks that have resulted in the deaths of at least five other Palestinians. Among the casualties was a medic in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as well as two individuals in a house in Khan Younis, where the Israeli military stated the target was a member of the Islamic Jihad group. Additionally, a high school student, Khaled Al-Breim, was killed in Khan Younis while reportedly on his way to distribute sweets to family and friends celebrating his recent academic achievements.
The violence has raised concerns about the ongoing conflict in the region. In recent months, Israeli forces have killed numerous members of the Hamas-led police, citing their connections to Hamas' armed wing. The Israeli government accuses Hamas of using the police force to further its military objectives, while Hamas contends that these strikes are part of a deliberate effort by Israel to destabilize the Gaza Strip.
Hamas officials have condemned the attacks, claiming they violate the terms of a ceasefire brokered by the United States in October. Since the ceasefire was established, Israeli strikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 1,180 Palestinians, the majority of whom are believed to be civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. In contrast, four Israeli soldiers have been reported killed in attacks within Gaza during the same period.
As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Gaza remains precarious, with both sides engaged in a cycle of violence that has deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region. The international community is closely monitoring developments, but efforts to mediate a lasting peace have so far been unsuccessful.
The recent air strikes and their deadly consequences highlight the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, raising questions about the future of stability in Gaza and the broader region.