Israeli strikes kill 12 in Gaza including police officers tasked with aid security

Israeli military strikes killed at least 12 people across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, 16 July, according to Palestinian medical officials and local emergency services. The casualties include police officers targeted in administrative areas, marking a continuation of high-intensity operations in the Palestinian enclave. Casualties reported in Gaza City and Nuseirat In Gaza City, an airstrike hit a residential unit near the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, resulting in multiple fatalities. Concurrently, medical teams at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the arrival of several bodies following a strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian health officials stated that five of the deceased were civil police officers tasked with securing aid convoys and maintaining local order. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on Thursday confirming targeted raids against what it identified as militant infrastructure and operational centers. The military maintains that its operations are necessary to dismantle the command structures of Hamas, though local health authorities report that the majority of those killed in recent strikes are non-combatants. Impact on humanitarian operations The death of police personnel directly affects the remaining administrative and security framework in Gaza. These officers are frequently involved in coordinating the movement of scarce food and medical supplies entering through the southern crossings. The targeting of local security forces has…