An Israeli airstrike on a tent camp sheltering displaced families in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 11 Palestinians, including the head of the Hamas-run police force in the territory, medics said.
Three children and two women are also said to be among the dead in al-Mawasi, west of the town of Khan Younis.
The Hamas-run interior ministry condemned what it called the “assassination” of police director-general Mahmud Salah and his assistant Hussam Shahwan, who it said were “doing their humanitarian and national duty.”
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.
The military has declared a sandy strip of land along the coast in al-Mawasi a “humanitarian zone” for Palestinians displaced by the war with Hamas. But she repeatedly attacked her, accusing Hamas operatives of hiding among displaced civilians.
The recent cold, wet weather has worsened conditions in the makeshift camp.
Last day, there were also deadly Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza City suburbs, further north in Jabalia, and Burei in central Gaza – from where the Israeli military said rockets were fired into southern Israel at the very start of the New Year.
