An Israeli air strike hit a Palestinian police post on May 23 in the al-Tuam/Tawam area of northern Gaza, killing at least five police officers and a 13-year-old boy, according to Gaza police and hospital reports [1, 2, 3]. At least 10 others, including police and civilians, were wounded in the attack [2, 3].
The Gaza police force, which has approximately 10,000 officers, remains a key point of contention in ongoing U.S.-brokered talks on Gaza's future [1, 2]. The strike is part of a pattern by Israel targeting Gaza police and security forces affiliated with Hamas, a pattern that started before the October 10, 2025 ceasefire and continues despite it [1, 2, 3]. Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud said, "This is not an isolated incident, it’s part of the pattern that the Israeli military, not only since the ceasefire started, but also before that, we see in a pattern of deliberate targeting of police, local security personnel and law enforcement structures across Gaza" [2].
Hamas interior ministry called the strike a "criminal act" aimed at "creating chaos in the Gaza Strip". It said Hamas police have lost 42 officers since the ceasefire began [3]. Israel maintains it has the right to target what it views as Hamas militants or security threats despite the ceasefire [3].
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, after more than two years of war, at least 883 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in ongoing violence across the Gaza Strip [1, 2]. The ceasefire has not halted near-daily Israeli attacks in the enclave [1, 2, 3].
The Gaza Health Ministry reported a heavy toll on civilians and many wounded arriving at local hospitals in recent days [2]. The strike on May 23 is the most recent deadly incident within this continuing pattern.
The ceasefire has been in place since October 10, 2025, but violence including strikes on police posts continues. Further developments are expected as U.S.-led talks on Gaza's future proceed.
