Israeli Strikes Kill Five in Gaza as Ceasefire Strains Under Renewed Violence
Gaza City-At least five Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Saturday, including four members of the same family, according to local health and civil defense officials, underscoring persistent violence despite a ceasefire that took effect last year.
An overnight airstrike hit an apartment building in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, killing four members of the Al-Safadi family, including a husband, wife and their two daughters, Gaza’s civil defense agency said. The agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said the attack also wounded 12 other people.
Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving the bodies of four members of the family, including two children.
Relatives said the victims were civilians with no involvement in militant activities. Nael Al-Safadi, a family member, said the strike occurred while the family was asleep inside the building.
Footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the apartment, with sections of the exterior wall destroyed and household belongings scattered among the rubble.
In a separate incident, Al-Shifa Hospital said it received the body of one person killed in an Israeli drone strike near an intersection in northern Gaza City.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either incident.
The latest deaths come as Israel and Hamas continue to exchange accusations of violating the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10 last year. Although large-scale fighting has subsided, sporadic strikes and security incidents have continued across the territory, complicating efforts to secure a permanent end to the conflict.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, at least 1,012 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire began. The United Nations has generally regarded the ministry’s casualty figures as reliable, although independent verification remains difficult because of restrictions on media access and movement within Gaza.
The Israeli military has reported five fatalities among its forces during the same period.
The continuing violence highlights the fragility of the truce and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts aimed at transforming the ceasefire into a lasting political settlement.
