Israeli drone strikes kill nine Palestinians across Gaza

At least nine Palestinians were killed and around 40 others injured in a series of reported Israeli drone strikes across the Gaza Strip over a 24-hour period, according to Palestinian media reports.

Quds Press reported on Wednesday that the strikes targeted individuals, vehicles and groups of people in several areas of northern, central and southern Gaza.

In Gaza City, a drone strike reportedly targeted a vehicle carrying Ahmed al-Batsh, whom Quds Press identified as a commander in Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, on Al-Saftawi Street.

The report said Youssef al-Zaim was killed in a separate strike near the 17th Roundabout in western Gaza City.

In the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, Civil Defence officer Sharif Labad and a child identified as Muhammad al-Zinati were reported killed. Quds Press said the child was attempting to assist Labad when he was struck.

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Another drone attack on a group of people in the Sheikh Ajlin neighbourhood injured around 10 people, according to the report.

In central Gaza, one Palestinian was reported killed and eight others injured in a drone strike near Al-Baidar Café in Al-Zawaida.

In southern Gaza, three strikes reportedly hit tents housing displaced Palestinians in the Al-Samoud area of Mawasi Khan Younis, killing three people and injuring more than 20 others.

One of those killed was identified by Quds Press as Nael Abu Ubaid, whom it described as a commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Rafah Brigade. The identities or affiliations of the other two people reported killed were not specified.

Residents of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza also reported Israeli quadcopter drones flying at very low altitude near residential buildings. Some residents reported that the drones fired at crowded areas and dropped explosive devices.

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