An apartment building in Gaza City was struck by an Israeli airstrike early on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least five Palestinians, including four women, according to health and civil defense officials. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident.
The airstrike caused the destruction of the apartment building and sparked a fire. Eyewitness Ahmed Al-Dahdouh described the chaotic scene, stating that the sudden strikes and explosions woke up the residents, leading to a frantic effort to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
Among the casualties were a Christian mother and her daughter, as confirmed by medics. Al-Dahdouh emphasized the innocence of the victims, highlighting the tragic loss of peaceful individuals in the attack.
Recent weeks have seen an escalation of Israeli strikes targeting Hamas, which Israel accuses of violating the ceasefire by rearming and launching attacks. The ongoing conflict has hindered progress on the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement, which aims for the eventual reconstruction of the territory and includes provisions for Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawal.
Hamas denies engaging in hostile activities or rebuilding its arsenal, placing blame on Israel for jeopardizing the peace deal in Gaza. According to Gaza health officials, Israeli fire has claimed the lives of over 1,400 Palestinians since the ceasefire last October, while Israel reports the deaths of four soldiers at the hands of Gaza militants during the same period.
The conflict traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants initiated hostilities by invading Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking. The situation remains volatile, with both sides continuing to exchange accusations and engage in violent confrontations.
