Israeli strikes kill five in Gaza, including nine-year-old girl
Israeli fire and airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday killed at least five Palestinians, including a nine-year-old girl, according to local health officials. The incidents mark a continued breach of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2026.
A drone strike on a blacksmith shop in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood killed four Palestinians and wounded another, officials at Shifa hospital reported. The Israeli military acknowledged striking the area, stating it targeted 'terrorist infrastructure,' without providing further details. Witnesses said an evacuation order was issued before the strike, followed by intense airstrikes about an hour later.
Separately, Israeli gunfire killed nine-year-old Tala Abu Matar in a displacement camp in central Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it was unaware of the incident.
Since the ceasefire began, Israeli strikes have lessened but continue almost daily. Israel's military says it targets Hamas and other militants, often claiming they were planning attacks. The strikes have also killed many civilians, including children.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 1,098 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, among them at least 260 children. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the same period. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed records that United Nations agencies and independent experts consider generally reliable. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children account for about half of all deaths.
The war was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 73,221 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. Most of Gaza's population of over 2 million remains displaced, living in crowded tent camps with limited services or in the ruins of buildings.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the ceasefire's second phase—including disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of Gaza—remain largely deadlocked.
