Israel Claims Gaza Airstrike Killed Suspect Linked to October 7 Hamas Attack Amid Rising Civilian Toll

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that they carried out an airstrike in Gaza targeting a vehicle allegedly carrying an individual involved in the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel.

The IDF stated that the operation was based on intelligence tracking the suspect’s real-time location, describing the individual as a “terrorist” linked to the deadly events of that day. The military emphasised that the vehicle was unmarked and not involved in transporting humanitarian aid.

Reports have surfaced suggesting that the targeted individual may have been connected to World Central Kitchen (WCK), an international organisation providing food in conflict zones. The IDF confirmed it is investigating these claims.

Meanwhile, Sky News has contacted WCK for comment on the situation. The Hamas-run Palestinian news agency WAFA reported separately that three WCK employees were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a civilian vehicle in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza.

Casualty figures in Gaza continue to climb, with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 44,382 deaths and 105,142 injuries since the outbreak of violence on 7 October. Overnight strikes on Friday reportedly resulted in the deaths of 32 Palestinians across Gaza.

Among those killed, seven people died in the destruction of a house in central Gaza, according to the Gaza Civil Defence Agency. The agency also reported that one of its officers was killed in an airstrike on Jabalia in northern Gaza.

The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas’ large-scale attack on Israel, has resulted in mounting casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. International concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the region are growing as the toll on civilians deepens.

World Central Kitchen, known for its work in crisis zones, has not yet stated the claims that the targeted individual was connected to its organisation or that its personnel were killed in the strikes.

As Israeli airstrikes persist, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with the escalating violence further complicating relief efforts and exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.