Gaza Herald – The body of Asaad Maliha, a citizen from the Gaza Strip, was found inside the central headquarters of the Longterm Zakat Committee on Tuesday morning. The discovery occurred shortly after Israeli military forces raided the facility located in the Artah suburb south of the city.
Local sources stated that civil defense teams and Palestinian Red Crescent personnel responded to the scene. They handled the corpse and transported it to a nearby hospital for further procedures and examination.
At this stage, the exact circumstances surrounding Maliha’s death remain unclear. Investigators have not yet determined the specific conditions under which his body was found within the premises of the religious committee.
A large contingent of the Israeli army breached the Zakat Committee building early Tuesday. Security forces sealed off the area and ordered several Gazan citizens, who had been residing in one section of the facility since October 7, 2023, to leave immediately.
According to reports, soldiers arrested multiple workers from Gaza during the operation. These individuals were loaded onto a military truck and taken to an unknown location. Information regarding their current status or whereabouts is currently unavailable.
The raid resulted in significant damage and destruction of contents inside the compound. Before withdrawing, troops posted a sign at the entrance claiming the committee operated illegally and supported terrorism, despite its affiliation with the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs.
During the incursion, soldiers deployed sound bombs and tear gas canisters toward journalists covering the event. Troops also pursued reporters in the vicinity of the site without reporting any injuries among the press corps.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
