The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on April 19, 2025, that an airstrike in northern Gaza’s Jabalia camp killed six Hamas militants but inadvertently caused civilian casualties, including medics, prompting rare expressions of regret.
Al Jazeera and Reuters reported the strike targeted a Hamas cell planning attacks, but shrapnel hit a nearby medical convoy, killing two paramedics and wounding eight civilians. The IDF stated the militants were hiding among civilians, a claim Hamas denied, accusing Israel of targeting aid workers. The incident occurred amid intensified operations, with 12 strikes in Jabalia that week, per Gaza’s health ministry.
The IDF’s statement, issued via X, expressed “deep regret” for civilian losses and promised a review, though no timeline was given. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported 23 civilian deaths in Jabalia since April 15, with 70% of homes damaged, per UN estimates. The incident strained a fragile January ceasefire, collapsed after Hamas rejected Israel’s truce terms, per The Wall Street Journal.