Kathmandu— Israeli air strikes on Wednesday killed at least ten Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, targeting a municipal police post in Gaza City and Nuseirat refugee camp. Hamas, which governs Gaza, strongly condemned the attacks as a “new war crime,” while Israel claimed its forces targeted Hamas commanders. The strikes occurred amidst stalled diplomatic efforts led by US envoy Jared Kushner to achieve a ceasefire and address the ongoing conflict.

Recent Attacks and Casualties

Israeli strikes on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least ten Palestinians, with nine fatalities reported after an attack on a Gaza City police headquarters. Medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital confirmed they received the bodies along with fifteen wounded individuals. The bombardment took place during a busy period near a park frequented by civilians, including children, according to Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud.

The victims included high-ranking police officials, such as the newly appointed Gaza City police chief and the director of a women’s police force. Earlier in the day, another strike on Nuseirat refugee camp killed one Palestinian, bringing Wednesday's total death toll to at least ten.

Conflicting Claims and Accusations

The Israeli army asserted that its air force targeted two Hamas commanders in Nuseirat and a further commander in Gaza City’s Tuffah area, but provided no supporting evidence. Hamas rejected Israel's justification, dismissing the claim of targeting “resistance leaders” as “baseless and false allegations.”

Hamas accused the Israeli government of deliberately undermining peace efforts and escalating towards renewed conflict, alleging a deliberate targeting of civilian police and unarmed civilians. This follows Tuesday’s strikes that killed seven people – including a child – at a crowded cafe on Gaza City’s harbor, which has been repurposed as a displacement camp.

Diplomatic Efforts Stall

The attacks occurred shortly after Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East envoy, visited the region to promote a US-backed deal. However, talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to produce a breakthrough, as Netanyahu rejected an agreement for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for Hamas disarming.

Following the unsuccessful meeting, Kushner reiterated “Israel’s right to defend itself” and warned that if Hamas does not disarm, the US would support Israel to “finish the job.”

Escalating Tensions

Hamas accused Israel of deliberately undermining efforts toward a peaceful resolution and pushing towards renewed conflict. The group stated that Israel was attempting to reignite a “war of extermination” against Palestinians in Gaza.

The situation remains highly volatile, with no immediate indication of de-escalation or resumed negotiations following the recent attacks and failed diplomatic initiatives.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.