Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, it has repeatedly targeted police personnel and infrastructure in Gaza, in what Palestinian authorities say is weakening public order institutions and undermining civilian infrastructure. In the months following the October 2025 ceasefire, the attacks have continued with a series of strikes hitting police vehicles, checkpoints and patrol units.
The most recent attacks took place this month. On April 11, an Israeli air strike on a police checkpoint in the Bureij refugee camp killed at least six policemen, while on April 5 a drone strike in Gaza City’s al-Daraj neighbourhood killed four.
In Gaza, around 10,000 police officers, mostly unarmed officers dressed in navy police uniforms, patrol the streets and maintain law and order, directing traffic and patrolling markets and tent encampments.
Palestinian authorities in the enclave have said Israel has killed at least 2,800 police officers since the start of the genocide in October 2023, and the attacks on police are part of a broader pattern that has persisted despite the truce, under which more than 770 Palestinians have been killed.
On January 12, a senior police officer, Mahmoud Al-Astal, head of criminal investigations in Khan Younis, was shot dead by Israeli-backed gangs in the al Mawasi area.
A January 31 Israeli strike on the Sheikh Radwan police station in Gaza City killed at least 10–14 people, including 8 police officers.
On February 26, Israel bombed police checkpoints in Khan Younis, killing at least 6 policemen.
Two Israeli strikes on March 14 and March 16 in central Gaza killed 9 police officers.
March 28 Israeli strikes on police checkpoints in Khan Younis killed 3 policemen.
On March 30, an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat police checkpoint killed 2 policemen.
Palestinian authorities in Gaza stated that "operational orders and precautionary measures" had been issued "to reduce risks to police personnel, including reorganising movements and deployments" after rampant Israeli attacks, Reuters reported.
Israel’s claims
Israel claims its attacks in Gaza that have struck and killed police officers have been aimed at eliminating “threats to its troops from Hamas”.
Israel continues to occupy roughly 53 percent of Gaza and views the police in Gaza as an extension of Hamas.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that Tel Aviv had adjusted its operational policies and escalated attacks, making no distinction between those from Hamas or police personnel.
According to Channel 12, these operations fall within what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as “disarmament the hard way", in parallel with diplomatic tracks proposed within international plans.
Political analyst Reham Owda told Reuters that Israel's attacks on the Gaza police highlighted Israeli anxiety about Hamas tightening its grip on Gaza.
"These strikes aim to disrupt Hamas' security efforts in the territory and convey a clear message that Israel will not accept any expanded security role for Hamas within Gaza," Owda said.
Israel has also been backing armed gangs in Gaza, who have targeted local police and are involved in looting aid and other criminal activities against Palestinians.
Hussam Al-Astal, leader of an Israeli collaborator militia, “Strike Force Against Terror”, based in Khan Younis, claimed responsibility for killing a top Gaza police officer on January 12.
Netanyahu has admitted support for armed gangs opposed to Hamas, including those accused of illicit arms and aid looting.
What do Palestinians say?
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has accused Israel of targeting police officers trying to maintain public security and stability in Gaza.
Hamas says the attacks represent a continuation of the Israeli brutal crimes against Palestinians in Gaza and an attempt to create chaos by targeting civilian police forces.
Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Gaza Government Media Office, says the Israeli attacks on police are designed to “undermine civilian infrastructure and weaken public order institutions", deepening the humanitarian crisis and spreading chaos.
Abdallah Al-Araisha, a Palestinian living in a tent encampment in Gaza City, told Reuters that the police had been helping to fight crime and protect people across Gaza, where most of the population of over 2 million is forcibly displaced.
Ramy Abdu of Euro-Med Monitor in Gaza said, “The targeting of civil police officers clearly aims to destabilise the community and create chaos, preventing citizens from accessing necessities, and thereby subjecting civilians to disorder to achieve political objectives.”
According to Ghada Ageel, a Palestinian journalist, "Even those trying to hold society together are being targeted. And when order is deliberately destroyed, chaos is the orchestrated, intended outcome.”
Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 72,000 Palestinians and wounded 172,000 others.
The deadly strikes have also caused widespread destruction, affecting 90 percent of Gaza's infrastructure.
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