Israeli strike kills Gaza security chief; nine more Palestinians killed in attacks

The health ministry says the death toll since October 2023 has reached 73,326

An Israeli airstrike killed Gaza's internal security chief in central Gaza on Sunday, while nine more Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the territory over the past 24 hours.

According to the territory’s interior ministry, the Israeli army killed the head of the Internal Security Directorate in central Gaza and another officer in an airstrike targeting their vehicle in Deir al-Balah, .

In a statement, the ministry said Col Wael Mousa al-Ladawi, 44, and Maj Ramez Tawfiq Abu Zureiq, 49, were killed in the strike.

The ministry said the two police officers were travelling in a vehicle in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza when it was hit by an Israeli aircraft.

The attack came despite a ceasefire agreement in effect in Gaza since Oct 10, 2025.

وزارة الداخلية في #غزة تعلن اغتيال مدير جهاز الأمن الداخلي في المحافظة الوسطى ومرافقه، إثر غارة إسرائيلية استهدفت مركبتهما، وتُظهر مشاهد متداولة قصف الاحتلال المركبة للمرة الثانية، خلال محاولة مواطنين تفقدها وانتشال الشهداء والمصابين.#تفاعل ليصل إليك كل جديد pic.twitter.com/8LjbGbvCgm

— TRT عربي (@TRTArabi) July 26, 2026

Meanwhile, the health ministry said that nine more Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll since October 2023 to 73,326.

A ministry statement said that hospitals across Gaza received the bodies of nine victims, including seven newly killed Palestinians and two who died of wounds sustained in previous Israeli attacks.

It added that 36 injured people were admitted to hospitals during the same period, pushing the number of injuries to 173,997 people.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that in the last 24 hours, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed 9 people and left 36 injured.

These new casualties bring the overall death count since October 7, 2023, to 73,326, while the total number of wounded now stands at 173,997. pic.twitter.com/bbG78V8RiF

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) July 26, 2026

Many remain trapped under the rubble and on roads while ambulances and civil defence crews are unable to reach them because of ongoing Israeli attacks.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct 10, 2025, the Israeli army has continued its daily attacks, killing at least 1,200 Palestinians and injuring 3,888 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

​​​​​​​The Israeli war since October 2023 has left the Palestinian enclave in ruins amid catastrophic humanitarian conditions for the territory’s 2.4 million population.