Escalating Strikes Across Gaza Leave Six Palestinians Dead Despite Prior Ceasefire

At least five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike, four of whom were women, in Gaza City on Saturday, according to medics in the strip. Among the dead were Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and Mary Hafez Michel Najjar, who were members of the strip’s small Christian community.

Saturday’s strike targeted an apartment building, occurring as Israel continues its deadly attacks on the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement reached a year ago. Medics reported on Sunday that an additional Palestinian was killed and 10 others were injured during a strike on a vehicle in the city of Deir Al Balah. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the strike.

The total number of Palestinians killed since the October ceasefire last year has now reached 1,446, with more than 5,060 injured. The Israeli military released a statement on Saturday stating that it killed a Hamas official overnight, though it was not immediately clear if this statement referred to the attack that killed at least five people in Gaza City. According to the statement, the strike was launched while the terrorist was in an apartment used by the Hamas terrorist organisation for terror activities.

During a funeral held at Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, Fouad Al Najjar shared his grief with Reuters, stating, “Today is essentially the worst day of my life. I lost my mother and my grandmother today.” These deaths follow Defence Minister Israel Katz's order to close all crossings into Gaza and the occupied West Bank on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.