Gaza’s civil defense agency reported on Saturday that Israeli airstrikes in the territory resulted in the deaths of seven individuals overnight. The Israeli military, in its defense, stated that it targeted what it identified as an “armed terrorist cell.”
Despite the implementation of a ceasefire on October 10, violence continues to plague Gaza, as both the Israeli military and Hamas accuse each other of violating the truce. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, which serves as a rescue service under Hamas, indicated that an Israeli drone fired two missiles near a police post in the Al-Bureij refugee camp.
In addition to the fatalities, several others were reported injured, four of whom are in critical condition. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza confirmed the arrival of six bodies and seven wounded victims, highlighting that many suffered severe injuries from direct strikes to vulnerable areas such as the face and torso. Nearby, the Al-Awda hospital reported one death along with two additional injuries.
Images from the Al-Aqsa hospital depicted mourners congregating around the bodies of the deceased, covered in white shrouds, as they were prepared for a funeral procession to Deir el-Balah.
The Israeli military claimed that its actions targeted an armed Hamas cell that was moving towards what is referred to as the Yellow Line—an unofficial boundary separating areas of Gaza under differing controls. The military asserted that the militants were planning an imminent attack against Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, which reignited following the Palestinian movement’s cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, both sides consistently allege violations of the ceasefire agreement. Since the truce began, Gaza’s health ministry, operating under Hamas authority, reported that at least 749 Palestinians have lost their lives, while the Israeli army noted the deaths of five soldiers during the same period.
Efforts to independently verify casualty figures or cover the situation in Gaza have been hampered by media restrictions and limited access to the region.
