Eleven Palestinians, including three children and their parents, were killed in a series of Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to hospital officials and the territory’s civil defence agency.
The surge in violence comes despite an active ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, though efforts to reach a permanent conclusion to the conflict have remained stalled, AFP reports.
In northwest Gaza City, an Israeli strike hit a residential apartment, killing a family of five. Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defence agency, said that the only surviving member of the family is a single child who was away from the home during the attack.
The bodies were transported to Al-Shifa hospital.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli military confirmed a strike was conducted in the city targeting a “Hamas terrorist,” adding that the military is currently assessing the outcome of the operation.
Witnesses described a scene of sudden devastation. Local resident Mousa Al-Aimawi said the missile struck without any prior warning.
Another resident in the building, Mohammed Kali, reported seeing the bodies of women, children, and elderly individuals scattered on the ground following the blast. Footage from the site showed significant damage to the building’s facade as rescue teams and onlookers searched through debris for survivors and belongings.
In the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, the civil defence agency reported three additional deaths following an airstrike on a group of civilians. Al-Shifa hospital confirmed it had received those three bodies.
Hours later, Bassal announced that a woman was killed when “Israeli artillery shelling” hit a tent used by displaced people east of Zeitoun. Al-Ahli Hospital received her body along with several wounded individuals, including her daughter. Three people remain missing in that area.
Health officials reported two further deaths in separate Israeli attacks elsewhere in the territory, though the Israeli military did not provide immediate comment on those specific incidents.
While a truce has been in place since last October, violence has persisted. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 1,144 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures to be reliable.
Over the same period, the Israeli military has reported the loss of five soldiers and one civilian contractor within Gaza. Due to media restrictions and limited access, independent verification of casualty tolls remains difficult.
