Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 13 Palestinians, including five children, on Thursday, 8 January 2026. The attacks represent a significant breach of the fragile US-sponsored truce that has been in place since October.
Details of the Deadly Attacks
According to Gaza's civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, the violence unfolded across the territory. A drone strike targeted a tent sheltering displaced civilians north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing four people, three of whom were children.
In the north, near the Jabalia refugee camp, an 11-year-old girl was killed. A separate strike on a school claimed another life, while a man died in a drone attack near Khan Younis. Two more Palestinians, including a child, were killed in other incidents throughout the day.
Later on Thursday evening, the situation escalated further. Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal reported that four more people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in eastern Gaza City. Rescue teams immediately began searching for several individuals reported missing under the rubble.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The latest bloodshed brings the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the October ceasefire took effect to at least 425, according to Gaza's health ministry. Thursday's toll marks one of the deadliest days in recent weeks.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told AFP that the strikes "confirm the Israeli occupation's renunciation of its commitment to the ceasefire." The Israeli military, when questioned by AFP about the initial reports, stated it was "checking" the information.
In a statement released earlier on Thursday, the Israeli military justified its actions by claiming a projectile was launched from the Gaza City area toward Israel, which fell inside the Strip. The military said it "precisely struck the launch point" shortly after. They also stated that militants have killed three Israeli soldiers during the ceasefire period.
Mounting Tensions and International Concern
The US-brokered truce, which began on 10 October, has largely halted major combat but has been marred by frequent allegations of violations from both sides. Bassal condemned Thursday's attacks as a "clear violation of the ceasefire agreement."
This incident follows a particularly lethal day on 22 November, when Israeli strikes killed at least 21 people, highlighting the precarious and volatile nature of the ceasefire. The ongoing violence underscores the deep-seated tensions and the immense human cost of the conflict, with civilian areas repeatedly becoming battlegrounds.
