Israel is intensifying attacks on people involved in weapons manufacturing and trading, as well as sites suspected of producing arms, in moves linked to its plans to demilitarize Gaza and maintain security control over the enclave.
Israel broke a lull in fighting on Monday with a new assassination that killed two Palestinians traveling in a vehicle from Gaza City to central Gaza.
Palestinians in the Nuseirat camp on Tuesday buried Samir Abu Dalal and Mohammed Darwish, who were killed in the strike. Their funeral coincided with the burial in Gaza City of 112 members of one clan who were killed during the Gaza war, but whose bodies could not previously be recovered.
Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Abu Dalal and Darwish had long-standing links to members of Palestinian factions who bought various weapons from them.
The sources said Israeli forces targeted three arms dealers in July, including one who worked directly for the supply unit of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing.
The Israeli military said late last month it had killed Mohammed al-Abd, an official in the supply department of Hamas’ military wing. On July 13, it said it had killed Mustafa al-Owaisi, accusing him of trying to smuggle military equipment into Gaza to help the Qassam Brigades rebuild.
The sources said Israel had killed many people involved in trading weapons during the war, including Kalashnikov rifles, anti-tank missiles, and modern sniper rifles.
Israeli strikes also targeted homes on the grounds that weapons were stored inside them, as well as workshops Israel said were used to manufacture arms.
The sources said Israel pursued Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives involved in weapons manufacturing as intensely as those who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack or held Israeli hostages during the war.
No new Israeli air strikes were recorded on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts continued to consolidate a “roadmap” agreement reached with Hamas in Egypt last Friday.
A Palestinian also died from wounds sustained in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment early on Sunday, when fighting sharply escalated.
Two Palestinians were wounded on Tuesday by fire from Israeli military vehicles in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Drones also dropped bombs over areas east of the city and in the Zeitoun neighborhood of southeastern Gaza City.
