UPDATE 1-Israeli strike kills five Gaza police officers, police say

An ​Israeli air strike targeting ​a Palestinian police post ‌in northern ​Gaza killed at least five officers on Saturday and wounded others, Gaza police ‌said, as Israel steps up attacks on the Hamas-run force.

In a statement, the Gaza police directorate, charged with maintaining security in areas ‌of Gaza that fell under Hamas control following a U.S.-brokered ‌ceasefire in October, said two missiles had hit a police post in the Tawam area. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request ⁠for ​comment.

Hamas' nearly ⁠10,000 police officers have emerged as a sticking point in talks to advance ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza. Hamas wants them included ​in a new police force envisaged under the plan. Israel ⁠objects to the involvement of any officers with Hamas affiliations. Those talks have ⁠also ​been deadlocked over Hamas' refusal to lay down its weapons, as well as near-daily Israeli attacks in the enclave, ⁠which health officials say have killed more than 880 Palestinians since the ⁠truce. ⁠At least four Israeli soldiers have been killed in militant attacks over the same period.

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