The Israeli military had no immediate comment although in a post on X, its Arabic spokesperson warned residents of al-Bureij earlier to evacuate ahead of an imminent strike against militants firing rockets from the area.

Israel and Hamas on Wednesday accused each other of obstructing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after Israel withdrew its negotiators from the talks the previous day. Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the refusal by the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas to hand over a list of the names of the hostages it still holds is hindering progress in the negotiations.

At least 13 people died in strikes across the Gaza Strip in the early hours of 2025, local health and civil defense officials said.

Israel struck a declared humanitarian zone in southern Gaza overnight, which rescuers on Thursday said killed the head of the Palestinian territory's Hamas-run police force, his deputy and nine others.

Israel conducted more than 1,400 air strikes on targets in Gaza in December alone, marking an average of 45 per day.

Israel will deliver "blows with a force not seen in Gaza for a long time" if the terrorist group Hamas does not release the hostages it has held for the past 14 months and does not stop its rocket attacks,