Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least thirteen Palestinians, including five children, according to the territory's civil defence agency. The attacks on Thursday, 8 January 2026, represent a significant breach of the US-brokered truce that has largely held since October.
Deadly Strikes Target Displaced Civilians
The most devastating single incident saw an Israeli drone strike a tent sheltering displaced civilians north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Four people were killed in that attack, three of whom were children, agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal confirmed to AFP.
Further violence was reported across the besieged enclave. In the north, near the Jabalia refugee camp, an 11-year-old girl lost her life. A separate strike on a school claimed another victim, while a drone attack near Khan Younis killed a man. Later on Thursday evening, an Israeli airstrike on a house in eastern Gaza City killed four more individuals, with rescue teams searching for several people reported missing.
Ceasefire in Name Only
Bassal stated the day's violence constituted a "clear violation of the ceasefire agreement." This sentiment was echoed by Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem, who told AFP the strikes "confirm the Israeli occupation's renunciation of its commitment to the ceasefire."
The Israeli military, when questioned by AFP about the reports, said it was checking the details. In a separate statement, the military claimed a projectile had been launched from the Gaza City area toward Israel earlier on Thursday, landing inside Gaza. "Shortly after, the (military) precisely struck the launch point," the statement read, suggesting the strikes were retaliatory.
Mounting Death Toll Amid Fragile Truce
Since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, the situation has remained volatile, with both sides accusing the other of violations. According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli forces have now killed at least 425 Palestinians in the territory during this period. One of the deadliest days was 22 November, when Israeli strikes killed 21 people.
The Israeli military states that militants have killed three of its soldiers in the same timeframe. The persistent violence underscores the fragility of the truce and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly hit and thousands remain displaced.
