Israeli military airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians overnight. Local hospitals confirmed the fatalities, while global focus has remained on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported receiving bodies from at least four separate strikes within the city. Among the deceased were two women and two children.
Footage from one of the strikes revealed significant damage in a residential apartment building. A large hole was visible on an upper floor with interior walls punctured and blood-stained items scattered both inside the room and out into the street.
“They say the war has stopped, but the war has not stopped,” stated Walid Shbeir, whose nephew was among the victims killed in the strikes. Family members mourned over the bodies at the hospital, expressing anguish over what they described as unending violence: “Every night there is killing, and we have martyrs. Every night, in the morning, in the evening, and at night, this killing is continuous for us.”
The Israeli military initially refrained from commenting on the strikes. In recent events, Israel targeted the top Hamas military leader, shortly after the previous leader’s death in strikes two weeks prior.
Since an attempted ceasefire in October aimed to end a prolonged two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas, violence has persisted. Despite a reduction in large-scale fighting, the fragile truce has witnessed near-daily instances of Israeli fire. The Gaza Health Ministry states over 936 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.
The Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, is deemed reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts, yet does not specify whether casualties are civilians or militants. Militants in Gaza have conducted shooting attacks targeting Israeli troops, prompting Israeli responses to perceived truce violations or threats. Reports state four Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza amid the ceasefire.
Israel launched operations in Gaza as a reaction to a Hamas assault in October 2023, which led to approximately 1,200 deaths and resulted in 251 hostages. The situation in Gaza remains tense as efforts to maintain peace continue.
Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman provided additional reporting from Tel Aviv.