The Mayor of Deir al-Balah, Eng. Diab Al-Jaru, was martyred today in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the municipal building in central Gaza. The attack also claimed the lives of 10 other civilians, with dozens more injured, some critically.

Local sources have confirmed that Israeli warplanes deliberately struck the building, causing extensive destruction and trapping several residents under the rubble. Emergency response teams, including Civil Defence and paramedics, are working tirelessly to recover the victims and tend to the wounded, despite the significant challenges posed by thick smoke, debris, and the scarcity of resources.

This brutal assault comes amidst the ongoing escalation by Israeli occupation forces across Gaza, which has seen numerous governmental institutions and civilian facilities subjected to relentless bombardment.

Palestinian officials and political analysts are unanimous in their belief that Israel is deliberately targeting key infrastructure in a calculated effort to sow chaos and destabilise the region further. The destruction of vital local governance structures, like the municipal building in Deir al-Balah, is part of a wider strategy to disrupt daily life, spread insecurity, and break the will of the Palestinian people. The continued targeting of civilians and essential services is a clear violation of international law and a stark reminder of the occupation's ongoing campaign to crush Palestinian resistance and sovereignty.