CAIRO (AP) — On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least four Palestinians, including two boys and a pregnant woman carrying twins, according to hospital authorities. The strike targeted a house in Nuseirat, an urban refugee camp situated in central Gaza, taking the lives of a couple in their 30s and their 10-year-old son, as reported by the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The fourth victim, a 15-year-old neighbor, was transported to the Awda hospital in Nuseirat, where it was noted that his younger brother sustained injuries during the strike. A neighbor, Mahmoud al-Muhtaseb, recounted the terrifying experience, stating, "We were sleeping and got up to the strike of a missile. The strike was strong. There was no prior warning."
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding this incident. The fatalities mark the latest casualties among Palestinians in the besieged enclave since the announcement of an October ceasefire that aimed to resolve a conflict lasting over two years between Israel and Hamas.
Despite the cessation of heavy fighting, the ceasefire has not prevented almost daily Israeli military actions. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have conducted numerous airstrikes and frequently opened fire on Palestinians near military-held areas, resulting in over 650 Palestinian deaths according to officials from Gaza health authorities. The Israeli government asserts that its military actions are in response to violations of the ceasefire or aimed at apprehending wanted militants.
It is important to note that about half of those killed during these operations have been women and children, as indicated by the Gaza Health Ministry. These recent deaths contribute to the staggering toll of more than 72,200 Palestinians who have lost their lives since the onset of the war, which was ignited by an attack from Hamas-led militants on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This assault resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and left more than 250 others taken hostage.
The health ministry, which functions under the Hamas-led administration, keeps comprehensive casualty records that are generally regarded as reliable by UN agencies and independent analysts, though it does not provide specific breakdowns between civilians and militants.
In addition to these incidents, militants have continued to conduct shooting attacks against Israeli troops, prompting Israel to assert that its retaliatory strikes are justified in light of such provocations. Since the ceasefire was instituted, four Israeli soldiers have also been killed.
