“Israeli fire kills at least 44 people in Gaza’’

On April 24, 2025, an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip killed at least 44 Palestinians. Two missiles struck a police station in Jabaliya, northern Gaza, resulting in 10 deaths and many injuries. The Israeli military claimed they targeted a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command center that was planning attacks against Israel. However, Hamas has denied these allegations. Following the attack, the ICU and solar power systems of the Dura Children’s Hospital in Gaza City were damaged, though no casualties were reported from this incident.

Medics said two Israeli missiles hit the police station, located near a market, which led to the wounding of dozens of people in addition to the 10 deaths. The identities of those killed were not immediately clear.

The Israeli military said in a statement apparently referring to the same incident, that it attacked a command and control centre operated by Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad groups in Jabalia, which militants used to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces.

It accused Palestinian militant groups of exploiting civilians and civil properties for military purposes, an allegation Hamas and other factions deny.

This attack has further worsened Gaza's healthcare crisis, as prolonged military operations and blockades have caused hospitals to suspend operations, and medical supplies are in shortage. The Israeli military reported one soldier killed and two seriously injured in northern Gaza. Meanwhile, Gaza's Health Ministry stated that since the ceasefire broke down in January of this year, over 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks. The death The Gaza Health Ministry said the Durra Children's Hospital in Gaza City had become non-operational, a day after an Israeli strike hit the upper part of the building, damaging the intensive care unit and destroying the facility's solar power panel system.toll since the start of the war has surpassed 51,300.

As a result, Spain has canceled a $7.5 million arms deal with the Israeli company IMI Systems, due to pressure from the left-wing coalition partners of the government. The country’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, decided to cancel the deal after the left-wing party, Sumar, threatened to leave the coalition government if the agreement was implemented.

The agreement was signed in February 2024, under which 15 million rounds of ammunition were to be purchased for Spain's Civil Guard. This was after Spain had previously pledged to halt arms sales to Israel. However, the agreement had initially been accepted based on legal advice. Following protests from five ministers and a subsequent review, the government decided to cancel the deal.

Sumar, especially its leader Yolanda Díaz, has criticized the deal as a violation of Spain's stance on Palestine. This controversy has further strained the relationship between Spain's Socialist Party and Sumar, which was already tense over the defense budget. A survey shows divided public opinion, with around 48% of people opposed to the deal, expressing concerns about not supporting Palestine.

While some support the cancellation of the deal, political analyst Astrid Barrio López has warned that this move could negatively impact Spain's judicial security and leadership in regard to international agreements.

At last, Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has stated that Israeli forces will remain in various so-called security zones, including buffer zones in Gaza, to protect Israeli settlements, regardless of whether the war ends.

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have repeatedly said that the ongoing assault aims to pressure Hamas into freeing the remaining 58 hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas said the offensive not only "kills defenceless civilians but also makes the fate of the occupation's prisoners (hostages) uncertain".

In a separate announcement, the military ordered residents of Khan Yunis and surrounding areas to evacuate after the air force intercepted three projectiles fired from south Gaza earlier in the day.

"IDF troops are operating with significant force in the area, and will strike with intensity on any location from which rockets are launched," the military said on X.

The United Nations had warned a day before that expanding Israeli evacuation orders were resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people into ever-shrinking areas, raising "real concern as to the future viability of Palestinians as a group in Gaza".

Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation and Egyptian mediators were to meet in Cairo.

"We hope the meeting will achieve real progress towards reaching an agreement to end the war, halt the aggression and ensure the full withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza," a Hamas official familiar with the ceasefire negotiations said on condition of anonymity.

The Times of Israel reported that Egypt's proposal would involve the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies, in exchange for a truce lasting between 40 and 70 days and a substantial release of Palestinian prisoners.

US President Donald Trump said during a cabinet meeting this week that "we're getting close to getting them (hostages in Gaza) back".