An Israeli airstrike killed at least three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old child, in the Gaza Strip on Monday after hitting a tent sheltering displaced people that Israel said housed a militant. The strike occurred in Deir Al-Balah, one of the least damaged towns in central Gaza, according to health authorities in the coastal enclave.
Casualties and Target
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that the fatalities were two men and an 8-year-old child, while a third man was wounded. Israel's military identified the target as Zaher Abu Salem, whom it described as a member of Islamic Jihad involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war.
Post-Ceasefire Violence
Since a ceasefire took hold in October, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes, killing 1,045 Palestinians according to Gaza health officials. Israel has announced a series of strikes targeting militants, including three over the weekend. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records considered generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts, but it does not distinguish between civilians and militants.
Ongoing Conflict
Militants have conducted shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to those and other violations. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire. The Oct. 7 attack by militants killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,058 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
