Israeli strike kills five Palestinians in northern Gaza, medics say

Medics and first responders confirmed the deaths of five Palestinians, three of whom were children, in an Israeli air attack near Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, with Palestinian officials stating that a drone had struck a group of people close to a mosque in the town.

The Israeli military claimed it struck a “terrorist” who had approached their forces near the Yellow Line, a boundary marking territory under Israeli control, and posed an immediate threat.

A Hamas representative denounced the attack as a “horrific massacre,” highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region. The ceasefire between Gaza and Israel, which has been in place since last October, remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the agreement.

According to the Hamas-led health ministry, at least 786 Palestinians and 2,200 others have been injured in Israeli attacks since the truce began. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported four of its personnel were killed in clashes with Palestinian armed groups during the same period.

The conflict began following a Hamas assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, the war has claimed more than 72,560 Palestinian lives, as per the territory’s health records.

Local journalists identified the victims as Abdullah al-Abed (9), Salah al-Abed (12), Mohammad Balousha (14), Alaa Balousha (46), and Anas Abu Foul (19). The attack underscores the continued violence despite efforts to maintain a fragile peace.