At least five Palestinians were killed in Israeli drone attacks targeting two police posts in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and the al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis in the south, continuing a pattern of violence that has persisted despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October.
Medical sources at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis reported receiving the bodies of three Palestinians and several wounded individuals following an Israeli military strike on a police checkpoint at the al-Maslakh intersection in al-Mawasi. Sources indicated the strike occurred in an area not under direct Israeli military control, with some of the wounded described as being in critical condition.
In the central Gaza Strip, two Palestinians were killed and others injured in a similar drone strike targeting a police post at the entrance to the Bureij refugee camp. The attacks occurred overnight into Friday, February 27, 2026, according to reports.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the strikes, asserting they demonstrate “the Zionist occupation’s blatant disregard for the efforts of mediators, and its complete disregard for the Peace Council and its role.” Qassem’s statement, reported by Al Jazeera, further alleged that Israel is continuing a “war of extermination against the Palestinian people,” despite what he characterized as superficial changes in tactics. He added that assurances from “guarantor states” regarding a cessation of hostilities lacked “any real substance on the ground.”
The current ceasefire, brokered in October 2025 as part of a peace plan spearheaded by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been repeatedly violated since its implementation, according to reports from Gaza. The BBC reported on February 19, 2026, that Hamas was reasserting control over security, tax revenue, and government services in Gaza, even as the territory remained devastated by the conflict. More than 72,000 Gazans have been reported killed by Israeli attacks during the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals and the abduction of 251 hostages, as detailed by Britannica. Israel responded by declaring war, initiating a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The conflict has expanded beyond Gaza, involving clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi forces in Yemen, and direct exchanges of strikes with Iran, as noted in Britannica’s overview of the conflict.
In April 2024, Israel and Iran engaged in direct strikes against each other, escalating regional tensions. Further escalation with Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” occurred in July 2024, according to Britannica. Ceasefire negotiations have repeatedly reached impasse, most recently in September 2024. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December 2024, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
As of February 2026, approximately 53% of Gaza remains under Israeli military control, according to Wikipedia’s ongoing coverage of the conflict. The status of the Peace Council and its role in mediating the conflict remains unclear, with no recent public statements from the body.
