An Israeli airstrike near a market in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of eight individuals on Friday. This report comes from Gaza’s civil defense agency and a local hospital. The Israeli military, however, asserted that the strike targeted a “terrorist cell.”
Despite a ceasefire being in effect between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, violence has continued unabated in Gaza. Efforts to achieve a sustainable peace agreement have made little progress, keeping tensions high in the region.
According to the civil defense agency, which functions as a rescue service under Hamas, the airstrike took aim at civilians gathered in the Al-Balata market area. They reported that eight individuals were killed, and an additional 22 were wounded in the incident. The Al-Awda hospital corroborated this information, receiving the deceased along with the injured.
Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the civil defense agency, indicated that the strike occurred during a funeral procession, heightening the tragedy of the event. In response, the Israeli military confirmed their airstrike, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted a cell associated with the Islamic Jihad organization in the region.
Acknowledging claims of civilian casualties, the Israeli military mentioned that “the results of the strike are under review,” indicating an awareness of the backlash from the incident.
In separate strikes on the same day, five additional people were reported killed by Israeli forces, including two women and the man whose funeral was ongoing during the market strike.
Prior to Friday’s incidents, statistics from Gaza’s health ministry indicated that at least 1,127 Palestinians had lost their lives since the truce was instituted last October. This figure has been recognized as reliable by the United Nations. During this same timeframe, the Israeli military reported the loss of five soldiers and one civilian contractor in Gaza.
The overall reporting on casualties remains challenging due to restrictions imposed on media outlets and limited access within Gaza. This situation further complicates the ability to independently verify the details surrounding the ongoing violence in the region.
