17 Killed in Fresh Gaza Strikes Despite Ceasefire
Israel launched a series of air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least 17 Palestinians, including women and children, despite renewed international efforts to advance the next phase of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending months of conflict. The latest wave of attacks, described by Palestinian health officials as one of the deadliest single-day offensives in recent weeks, came only days after United States President Donald Trump announced what he called a significant step towards peace and security in Gaza. A proposed roadmap for implementing the next phase of the ceasefire has reportedly been accepted by Hamas, although Israel has not publicly confirmed its position on the proposal.
Among those killed were Abdullah Abu Taif, 33, his pregnant wife Abeer Anan, 29, and their five-year-old son, Azzam, after an air strike hit a residential apartment in western Gaza City. In Khan Younis, another strike claimed the lives of Mahmoud Al-Hams, 38, his wife Fatima, 37, and their young daughter when their apartment was struck. Medical officials also reported that three other people sustained injuries in the attack.
Central Gaza also witnessed deadly attacks, with 68-year-old Kamu Abu Muailiq and his 59-year-old wife, Huda, killed after their home near Deir al-Balah was bombed. In the same area, two brothers lost their lives while travelling on a motorcycle. In northern Gaza, one Palestinian was killed in Jabalia refugee camp after reportedly being directly targeted. Elsewhere, an Israeli drone strike on a tent sheltering displaced families in the Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City killed two people, including a child, while another strike on a vehicle in the city left four people dead.
The latest attacks, according Al Jazeera Reports, have further deepened concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict despite repeated announcements of ceasefire arrangements. On Saturday, an Israeli strike hit medicine storage facilities linked to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, destroying two warehouses and severely damaging two others. Gaza health officials warned that the loss of vital medical supplies would further cripple an already overwhelmed healthcare system struggling to treat thousands of wounded patients.
Witnesses said the hospital area was struck shortly after evacuation warnings were issued, with the explosions damaging nearby shelters for displaced families and forcing many residents to flee once again. Residents across the enclave also reported that Israeli warplanes carried out multiple strikes over the past two days without prior warning, targeting residential buildings and civilian gathering points. Israel has consistently maintained that such locations are targeted because they are allegedly used by Hamas and other armed groups.
The renewed violence has cast fresh doubt over efforts to implement the proposed ceasefire. Many Palestinians argue that repeated attacks and continued restrictions on humanitarian assistance have undermined previous agreements and left little confidence that the latest initiative will bring lasting peace. According to health authorities in Gaza, more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,000 injured since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, raising further questions over the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera
Author: Joyce Owusu
