Israeli attacks across Gaza reported as artillery, vehicle gunfire and naval strikes hit multiple areas
Israeli attacks across Gaza intensify with artillery, vehicle-mounted gunfire and naval rounds reported near Khan Younis, Bureij refugee camp and Gaza City, Wafa and AFP say.
Israeli attacks across Gaza were reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, which cited local sources describing strikes and heavy military activity in multiple parts of the Strip. The agency said artillery fire struck eastern and southern sections of Khan Younis while Israeli military vehicles engaged in sustained gunfire near the city. Wafa also reported intense shelling in the eastern areas of the Bureij refugee camp that sent residents fleeing in panic.
Khan Younis targeted by artillery and vehicle-based gunfire
Wafa’s account described artillery barrages hitting eastern and southern neighborhoods of Khan Younis, a densely populated urban area in southern Gaza. Local witnesses reported prolonged bursts of gunfire from military vehicles positioned near the city perimeter, according to the agency’s dispatch. The combination of indirect fire and vehicle-mounted weapons raised alarm among civilians and complicated movement for humanitarian actors operating in the area.
Bureij refugee camp residents report panic after shelling
In central Gaza, Wafa said the eastern sectors of the Bureij refugee camp came under intense shelling that sparked panic among civilians sheltering there. Witnesses described families abandoning homes and seeking cover as rounds landed nearby, though confirmation of strike locations remains limited. The camp, which houses large numbers of internally displaced people, has limited safe space and basic services, heightening the humanitarian risk from sustained hostilities.
Naval vessels open fire toward Gaza City coastline
Wafa and on-the-ground sources reported that Israeli warships fired toward the coastline off Gaza City, sending ashore witnesses scrambling for shelter along seaside neighborhoods. There were no immediate casualty reports from the naval exchanges in the hours after the reported strikes. Naval fire toward populated coastal areas raises concerns about civilian exposure, particularly where residents live and work close to the shoreline.
Funeral in Gaza City for Hamas commander took place amid unrest
A funeral procession in Gaza City on 16 May 2026 saw mourners carry the bodies of Ezzedine Al-Haddad, identified by local and regional media as a senior Hamas commander, alongside relatives, according to Reuters and AFP imagery from the scene. The ceremony occurred as tensions and confrontations continued across the Strip, underscoring how militant deaths and funerals can become flashpoints for further violence. Visual coverage by AFP showed large crowds and heightened emotion at the burial, reflecting the fraught atmosphere in the territory.
Wafa cited local sources; independent verification remains limited
Most of the incident details circulated via Wafa and interviews with local residents and medics, and independent confirmation of precise strike maps and casualties was not immediately available. International monitors and aid organizations often face access constraints in rapidly evolving hostilities, complicating external verification of battlefield claims. Officials on all sides frequently issue differing accounts, and journalists working under difficult conditions can face restrictions that slow comprehensive reporting.
Humanitarian implications and displacement concerns grow as clashes continue
Humanitarian groups routinely warn that renewed rounds of strikes and ground activity increase risks of civilian harm, displacement and interruptions to aid delivery across Gaza. The reported strikes in crowded urban and refugee-camp settings heighten those risks, especially where access to shelter, water and medical services is already strained. Agencies tracking needs have repeatedly called for safe passages and unimpeded humanitarian operations to reach affected populations.
The situation across Gaza remains fluid, with reports of shelling, gunfire and naval activity coming from local news outlets and eyewitnesses; no comprehensive casualty figures have been confirmed. Journalists and monitors will continue to seek verification as more information becomes available from independent observers, medical sources and humanitarian agencies.
