Gaza's police chief, Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, was killed in an Israeli drone strike, an act Hamas condemned as an attempt to destabilize the enclave and violate the ceasefire. Gaza's Interior Ministry accused Israel of deliberately targeting police to spread chaos. Meanwhile, the EU welcomed Israel's decision to extend the mandate of the bloc's border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing and its police training scheme until mid-2027, aiming to improve crossing efficiency and support Palestinian security forces.
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Key Numbers
mid-2027extension of EU mission and training scheme
Who's Involved
Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil
Gaza City's police chief killed in Israeli strike
Hamas
condemned Israeli strike, decried 'chaos' tactic
Gaza's Interior Ministry
accused Israel of deliberately targeting police
EU
welcomed extension of Gaza border mission mandate
Kaja Kallas
EU's top diplomat welcoming mission extension
Israel
conducted drone strike, agreed to extend border mission mandate
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Key facts
Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, Gaza City's police chief, was killed in an Israeli drone strike.
Hamas condemned the strike, calling it an attempt to destabilize Gaza and violate the ceasefire.
Gaza's Interior Ministry accused Israel of deliberately targeting police to spread chaos.
The EU welcomed Israel's decision to extend the mandate of its border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing.
The EU's police training scheme mandate at Rafah will also be extended.
The extension of the EU mission and training scheme is until mid-2027.
The mission aims to improve crossing efficiency and support Palestinian security forces.
Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, the police chief of Gaza City, has been killed in an Israeli drone strike. Hamas has condemned this action, characterizing it as an attempt to destabilize the Gaza Strip and a violation of the existing ceasefire. Gaza's Interior Ministry further accused Israel of deliberately targeting police officers with the intention of spreading chaos within the territory.
In a separate development, the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has welcomed Israel's decision to extend the mandate of the EU's border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing. This extension, along with the police training scheme, is set to continue until mid-2027. The stated aims of this extended mission are to enhance the efficiency of the crossing and to provide support to Palestinian security forces.
The Israeli strike on Colonel Abu Kamil has been framed by Hamas and Gaza's Interior Ministry as a deliberate act to disrupt order. The EU's engagement with the Rafah crossing, however, focuses on improving operational capacity and security training, indicating a different facet of international involvement in the region's border management and security.
↳ Why This Matters
Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil, the police chief of Gaza City, has been killed in an Israeli drone strike. Hamas has condemned this action, characterizing it as an attempt to destabilize the Gaza Strip and a violation of the existing ceasefire. Gaza's Interior Ministry further accused Israel of deliberately targeting police officers with the intention of spreading chaos within the territory.
Frequently asked questions
Colonel Jamal Abu Kamil was the head of the police force in Gaza City. He was killed in an Israeli drone strike on Thursday.
The ministry accuses Israel of deliberately targeting police personnel with the aim of spreading chaos in the Gaza Strip and violating the ceasefire.
The ministry reported that 53 police commanders, officers, and personnel have been killed in direct Israeli attacks since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025.
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, over 1,180 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025.
What Happens Next
01The international community is expected to respond to Gaza's Interior Ministry call for intervention.
02Further Israeli strikes and Palestinian responses are anticipated.
03Mediators will continue efforts to advance a plan for ending the conflict.
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