An Israeli military strike in southern Gaza has resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians, including two young children, according to the territory's civil defence agency. The incident on Wednesday further strains a fragile US-brokered truce that has largely halted fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Details of the Attack and Casualties
Gaza's civil defence spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, informed the AFP news agency that an Israeli missile struck the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis. The attack killed five citizens, including two children aged eight and ten, and left others with serious injuries.
The agency stated the strike hit near the Kuwaiti field hospital in Khan Younis and targeted a shelter camp. The hospital itself confirmed the casualty figures, reporting a total of 32 people wounded in addition to the five fatalities.
Israeli Military's Response and Ceasefire Tensions
The Israeli military issued a statement saying it had struck a "Hamas terrorist" in southern Gaza. It described this as a response to a clash with Palestinian militants in the area earlier on Wednesday, which left five Israeli soldiers wounded. During an operation near eastern Rafah, soldiers encountered militants emerging from an underground structure, resulting in one soldier being severely injured and three others moderately hurt.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on 10 October. A security source in Gaza told AFP of heavy artillery shelling and gunfire from warplanes east of Rafah city around 4pm local time.
Broader Context and UN Criticism
The strike occurs amidst ongoing tension over the ceasefire terms, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The health ministry in Gaza states that 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began, while Israel reports three soldier deaths in the same period.
Also on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told Reuters there were "strong reasons to believe" war crimes had been committed during Israel's military operation in Gaza. He criticised the "total neglect in relation to the deaths of civilians and to the destruction of Gaza." Israel's mission to the UN did not immediately respond to these remarks.
The conflict was sparked by Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,221 people. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed at least 70,117 people, according to the territory's health ministry.
