Eight people were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency, as violence continues despite ongoing international efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire. The agency said the strikes hit residential areas in southern Gaza, including Khan Younis, where a house and a tent sheltering displaced families were struck, resulting in the deaths of several civilians, among them women and children.
Local medical officials reported that a number of people were also wounded and taken to nearby hospitals, many of which are operating under severe shortages of staff, fuel and medical supplies. Rescue workers described scenes of destruction, saying teams searched through rubble for survivors following the strikes.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports and has previously stated that its operations in Gaza are aimed at militant targets, accusing armed groups of operating from within civilian areas. In similar recent incidents, Israel has said air strikes were carried out in response to perceived security threats or violations of ceasefire understandings, while Palestinian authorities maintain that civilians are bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The latest deaths come amid heightened tensions and intermittent hostilities in Gaza, even as mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar continue to push for a sustained truce and renewed negotiations. Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that continued air strikes are worsening an already dire situation for Gaza’s population, with large numbers of people displaced and basic services close to collapse.
Casualty figures in Gaza are difficult to independently verify and often differ between sources, but international agencies and aid groups have consistently expressed concern over the high number of civilian deaths. Calls have intensified for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and to protect civilians as diplomatic efforts to end the fighting continue.
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