Nine Palestinians Killed, Including Three Children, in Israeli Strikes on Gaza City

At least nine Palestinians, including three children, were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials, as renewed violence continued despite a fragile ceasefire that has struggled to halt hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

Hospital officials said one of the deadliest strikes hit an apartment building in the Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City, killing five members of the same family, including children between the ages of eight and 18. Six other people were wounded in the attack and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. A separate strike in the Zeitoun neighborhood killed four more adults and left another person critically injured, according to medical authorities.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants and infrastructure in the area but did not immediately provide specific details about the operations linked to the reported civilian casualties. Israeli officials have consistently maintained that Hamas operates from within densely populated civilian areas, an allegation the group denies.

The latest fatalities add to a growing number of deaths reported since a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect in October. While the truce significantly reduced large-scale fighting, both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating its terms, with Israeli forces continuing near-daily strikes against what they describe as militant targets and Palestinian armed groups occasionally launching attacks against Israeli forces.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, with women and children accounting for a significant proportion of the casualties. Israeli authorities have also reported military losses during the same period as sporadic clashes continue. The figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Humanitarian organizations have continued to express concern over the worsening conditions facing civilians in Gaza. Thousands of families remain displaced, while damage to homes, hospitals and other essential infrastructure has further complicated efforts to provide food, medical care and shelter to affected communities. Aid agencies have repeatedly called for greater protection of civilians and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout the territory.

Diplomatic efforts to reinforce the ceasefire and revive broader peace negotiations have so far yielded little progress. International mediators continue to urge both Israel and Hamas to uphold their commitments, warning that continued violence risks undermining hopes for a lasting resolution to the conflict.

As rescue workers searched through damaged buildings for additional victims, residents described scenes of panic and destruction following the strikes. With tensions remaining high and military operations continuing, observers fear the civilian death toll could rise further unless a more durable ceasefire is achieved.