Israeli airstrikes killed at least 12 Palestinians, including six children and two women, across northern and southern Gaza on Saturday, according to hospital officials, marking one of the deadliest days since an October ceasefire aimed at halting the conflict.
The strikes hit a residential apartment building in Gaza City and a tent camp sheltering displaced families in Khan Younis, hospitals receiving the victims reported. The casualties came from two separate families, underscoring the continued civilian toll despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.
The violence occurred one day before the scheduled reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Gaza’s southern gateway. All border crossings have remained closed since the start of the war, severely restricting movement and access to medical care.
The reopening of Rafah — initially in a limited capacity — represents a key step in the second phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. This phase focuses on reopening border crossings, demilitarizing Gaza after nearly two decades of Hamas rule, and establishing a new governing authority to oversee reconstruction.
For Palestinians, Rafah is considered a vital lifeline, particularly for tens of thousands requiring urgent medical treatment abroad, as most of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has been destroyed during the conflict.
Despite progress on diplomatic fronts, Saturday’s strikes highlight the fragility of the ceasefire. Shifa Hospital reported that three children, their aunt, and grandmother were killed in Gaza City, while the children’s mother survived. Separately, Nasser Hospital confirmed that a strike on a tent camp ignited a fire, killing a father, his three children, and three grandchildren.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect on October 10. The ministry’s casualty figures are widely regarded as generally reliable by the United Nations and independent experts, despite operating under the Hamas-led administration.
Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the latest strikes.
