Gaza City – Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. The strikes, which have continued despite a ceasefire in effect since October 10, 2025, have intensified in recent days, causing a significant increase in casualties.

Among the fatalities reported on Sunday, July 27, 2026, were Colonel Wael Mousa al-Ladawi, 44, the head of the Internal Security Directorate in central Gaza, and Major Ramez Tawfiq Abu Zureiq, 49. They were killed when their vehicle was targeted in Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza [5, 6, 9]. Eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli drone fired missiles at their vehicle, and local sources indicated that the vehicle was hit a second time while civilians attempted to reach the site [11].

In addition to the targeted killings, nine other Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the territory within the same 24-hour period [6, 11]. The Ministry of Health stated that hospitals received nine bodies, including seven individuals killed in new attacks and two who succumbed to wounds sustained in previous Israeli assaults [6]. Another Palestinian, Mohammad Isleem, died on Monday from wounds sustained in an earlier Israeli airstrike on Deir Al-Balah [10].

The escalating violence comes amidst reports that the Israeli security cabinet approved the entry of an International Stabilization Force into Gaza [6, 13]. However, this decision was met with opposition from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who argued that Hamas had not met its commitments [6].

The overall Palestinian death toll since October 2023 has reportedly reached 73,326, with over 173,997 injured [6, 11]. Many remain trapped under rubble, with ambulances and civil defense crews facing difficulties reaching them due to ongoing Israeli attacks [6]. In a separate incident, three Palestinian fishermen were injured when an Israeli drone struck near their boat off Gaza City's coast [8].