Casualties and Damage
Residential areas in Gaza were targeted in overnight Israeli airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people, according to local authorities. The attacks reportedly included a military helicopter strike that struck an apartment building, killing a man and his wife and leaving several others injured, as confirmed by Gaza civil defence officials. Palestinian health officials reported additional casualties, including a child killed in a strike on a residential building in Gaza City, and a father, mother, and their nine-year-old son who were killed after a strike on a house in Khan Younis. A man and woman died after their apartment block was struck in Deir el-Balah.
Before that, on Saturday, Israeli strikes claimed seven lives in the region. The damage caused by the attacks extended to essential infrastructure, with a hospital's medical supplies reportedly destroyed. Mahmoud Basal, a civil defence spokesperson, noted that a strike on a rooftop southwest of Gaza City killed two people and wounded several others. This incident highlighted the growing humanitarian concerns in an already fragile situation. More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since a supposed ceasefire came into effect last October.
Hospital and Weapons Storage
Al-Shifa Hospital, one of the main medical facilities in the area, identified two deceased individuals from the rooftop strike. The Israeli military released a statement confirming it had struck several locations in Gaza and dismantled five Hamas weapons storage facilities. One such facility, located next to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, was described as being used as a hideout by Hamas operatives. The Israeli Energy Minister, Eli Cohen, stated that no deal had been reached to stop attacks on the Gaza Strip, and he expressed the need for the strip to be placed under full Israeli control if Hamas did not disarm.
The Palestinian health ministry criticized the strikes, saying that the attacks had obliterated two of four warehouses storing medical supplies, damaged the remaining two, and caused harm to an adjacent outpatient clinic. Vital consumables and supplies needed for patient care were either destroyed or rendered unusable, according to a statement from the ministry. Visual footage provided by AFP showed a large crater formed by the explosion, with scattered medical supplies in the aftermath. According to the roadmap for the Gaza peace deal, a process will begin to inventory and store heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots, and tunnels, conditional on Israel meeting its commitments under the initial ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli military accused Hamas of hiding weapons and fighters in civilian infrastructure, using hospitals and other essential facilities to stage operations. While the military claims to act in self-defense and to eliminate threats, the collateral damage has raised concerns among residents and humanitarian groups. Israel has destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in areas of Gaza that have remained under its control since the ceasefire, according to satellite imagery seen by BBC Verify last November. The actual number is likely much higher, with imagery unavailable for some areas.
Jaber Abed, a 33-year-old resident, recounted how he and his family were forced to flee their temporary shelter near a hospital at dawn. He expressed hope that the conflict would end soon and that people could live with dignity. However, he added that without pressure from US President Donald Trump, he did not believe Israel would follow through on a ceasefire agreement. Similarly, Abdullah Al-Hou, another displaced resident from northern Gaza, described the current state of life as existing between hope and fear. The UN estimates that around 60 million tonnes of debris has been generated since October 2023.
Al-Hou added that while the mention of a timeline for implementing the ceasefire deal was seen as a positive step, the ongoing airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire made it difficult for people to believe the war was truly drawing to a close. He emphasized the need for a real and lasting ceasefire, noting that each hour of delay in peace talks meant more loss of life and suffering for civilians. According to President Trump, the Board of Peace has reached an agreement for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Trump insisted that Israel was "very happy" with the proposed agreement, describing it as a "big step for the Middle East."
Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, stated that the responsibility now rested with Israel to stop violating the ceasefire. He called on international mediators to push Israel harder to end its violations and breaches of the agreed-upon truce. Meanwhile, media access in Gaza remains severely restricted, preventing AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or gaining full access to areas affected by the violence. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the draft disarmament plan as "not acceptable."
The conflict, which has displaced the majority of Gaza's population, continues to strain resources and challenge diplomatic efforts. As the region remains tense, residents are left in a state of uncertainty, clinging to the fragile hope that a lasting solution is possible without further loss. The 20-point plan, unveiled in September last year, includes the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee the agreement's implementation, as well as the disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and reconstruction of Gaza. Hamas, proscribed by the UK government as a terror organisation, has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.