Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City killed at least nine Palestinians, including three children, on Saturday, Palestinian health authorities said, as renewed fighting persisted despite a fragile ceasefire that has struggled to stop hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
One of the bloodiest attacks hit an apartment block in the Nasr neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing five members of the same family, including children aged eight to 18, hospital authorities said. The incident left six others wounded who were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. In a subsequent strike in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, four additional adults were killed and one person badly injured, medical authorities said.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas militants and infrastructure in the region but did not immediately give details of the actions connected to the reported civilian casualties. Israeli officials have said repeatedly that Hamas operates from heavily populated civilian neighbourhoods, a charge the militant group disputes.
The latest casualties come amid a rising death toll reported since a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was enacted in October. The truce has dramatically curbed large-scale fighting, but each side has accused the other of numerous breaches. Israeli forces have carried out almost daily strikes on what they say are militant targets and Palestinian armed groups have at times fired at Israeli forces.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said since the ceasefire began more than 1,100 Palestinians had been killed, with a substantial proportion of the victims being women and children. Sporadic battles persist in the meantime and Israeli authorities have also recorded military losses throughout the same period. The Health Ministry in Gaza does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
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Humanitarian groups have been raising the alarm about the worsening situation for residents in Gaza. Damage to homes, hospitals and other key infrastructure has made it even harder to get food, medical care and shelter to those affected, with thousands of families still homeless. Aid agencies have consistently appealed for better safety for people and for unhindered humanitarian access to the territory.
Diplomatic efforts to cement the ceasefire and resume broader peace talks have so far seen little success. International mediators have repeatedly urged Israel and Hamas to honour their agreements, warning that any further violence could jeopardise chances for a long-term resolution to the conflict.
Residents recalled scenes of panic and wreckage after the strikes, rescue teams searching through damaged buildings for more victims. But with tensions still high and military activities ongoing, experts fear the civilian death toll could climb further without a more sustainable ceasefire.
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