An Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Monday struck a tent sheltering displaced civilians, resulting in the deaths of a five-year-old girl and her uncle, according to hospital authorities.
Details of the Deadly Strike
The attack occurred in the Muwasi area, located northwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Officials from Nasser Hospital confirmed the fatalities and reported that two other children were wounded in the incident. The Associated Press noted it could not independently verify these details.
Distraught family members were seen weeping over the bodies as they arrived at the hospital. These latest deaths contribute to the more than 400 people killed in Gaza since a ceasefire began in October, as stated by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel's Justification and Regional Escalation
In a statement on social media, the Israeli military asserted it had targeted a Hamas militant who was planning an imminent attack against Israeli troops operating in the southern Gaza Strip. The military claimed the strike was conducted in compliance with the existing ceasefire agreement and was executed in a targeted manner to minimise harm to civilians.
It was not immediately clear if this statement referred directly to the strike on the tent. In a related development, the Israeli military also announced it had begun striking Hezbollah and Hamas targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, citing continued violations of the ceasefire.
This escalation comes just days before Lebanon's army commander is scheduled to brief the government on efforts to disarm Hezbollah in areas bordering Israel. Israel and the Lebanese militant group had exchanged fire for over a year before a ceasefire was reached in November 2024.
Mounting Casualty Toll Since October Ceasefire
Earlier on Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that two other bodies had been brought to local hospitals in the preceding 24 hours. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration, maintains that 422 bodies have been brought to hospitals since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October.
Its detailed casualty records are generally viewed as reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. The ministry added that five more people were hospitalised with injuries over the last day, bringing the total wounded since the ceasefire to 1,189.
A further 684 individuals have been found dead under rubble across Gaza during the same period. The ministry states the overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has now risen to at least 71,388, with another 171,269 wounded.
