Gaza’s civil defence reports five killed, including three children, in an Israeli strike as both sides trade accusations of violating a fragile ceasefire.
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defence agency says an Israeli airstrike killed five people, including three children, in the north of the territory.
The strike late on Wednesday targeted a group of civilians near Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia, according to a statement from the agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas authority.
“Their bodies were taken to Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City,” the statement said.
The hospital confirmed it received the bodies, though the ages of the children were not specified.
The Israeli military told AFP it was checking the reports of the incident.
A fragile truce has largely halted the Gaza war that began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Both sides, however, regularly accuse each other of violating the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.
Gaza’s health ministry, which is under Hamas authority, says at least 786 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began.
The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures to be reliable.
The Israeli military has reported five soldiers killed in Gaza over the same period.
Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented independent verification of casualty figures.
