An Israeli aerial vehicle struck a vehicle carrying Hamas operatives in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City, the IDF says. At least two operatives were killed in the strike.
The IDF confirmed Monday morning that a drone strike in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City killed at least two Hamas operatives. The military's confirmation, the first official statement since the strike was reported, came at approximately 10:56 Jerusalem time, according to the source '301 — the Arab World on Telegram,' which attributed the information to an IDF statement.
The development follows a rapid sequence of reports beginning at 10:39 Jerusalem time. Initial Palestinian reports described an Israeli Air Force strike on a vehicle in western Gaza City, killing two people and wounding several others (The Zioneer, Mon 10:39). Minutes later, Palestinian sources identified the location as the Rimal neighborhood, and video footage circulated showing the explosion, with the Palestinian Red Crescent confirming two fatalities (The Zioneer, Mon 10:39). The Zioneer then reported, based on the same Palestinian sources, that the strike was carried out by a drone and that two people were killed, though their affiliation remained unclear (The Zioneer, Mon 10:39). The IDF's confirmation that the target was Hamas operatives constitutes a significant escalation in corroboration, moving from unverified reports and secondhand sources to an on-record military statement.
The strike occurred against a backdrop of broader regional activity. As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday (Mon 10:47 Jerusalem), Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke by phone with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Trump envoy Jared Kushner, and Qatar's Prime Minister regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon — a separate diplomatic track not directly linked to the Gaza operation.
As of 10:58 Jerusalem time, the IDF has not released the identities of the operatives killed or indicated whether any additional casualties occurred.
6 developments
- StrongFootage emerges of vehicle strike that killed 3 in western Gaza City
- StrongReports: IDF strikes terror infrastructure in western Gaza City
- DevelopingReported Israeli strike targets building neighborhood in Beit Lahia, Gaza
- DevelopingResidents in eastern Gaza City report building explosions and artillery fire
Source and signal
- Internal intake