Israeli Airstrike Kills Family in Gaza Amid Rising Conflict and Ceasefire Tensions
Escalation of Violence and Human Impact in Gaza
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
Details of the Airstrike
CAIRO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - An Israeli airstrike killed a man, his wife, and their two daughters, aged 8 and 12, in a house in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, health officials said, after the Israeli military escalated bombardments over the past two days.
Israeli Military Statement
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a "military structure" and killed Muamen Ahmed, who it described as a military operative who had taken a direct part in combat against Israeli forces.
It gave no mention of a wife or children, but said Ahmed had recently been "advancing terror attacks" against Israeli forces. Health officials and relatives in Gaza confirmed that Ahmed had been killed, but made no comment on his alleged activities.
Aftermath and Community Response
At Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital, friends and relatives flocked to pay their respect as the white-shrouded bodies of the family members were laid on the ground before being taken to burials.
Zuhair Al-Haisami, a neighbour of the victims, said an airstrike had hit their home at 2 a.m., while they were sleeping.
"There isn't any truce," he said. "Not a single day passes without martyrs, or (people being) injured," he added.
Ceasefire Tensions and Accusations
Ceasefire Status and Ongoing Strikes
An October 2025, U.S.-backed, ceasefire halted large-scale fighting, but it has not ended Israeli strikes and there has been little progress on steps towards permanent peace.
Mutual Accusations
Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and undermining efforts to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which includes the Israeli withdrawal from the strip and the disarmament of Hamas.
Israel says Hamas has been violating the deal.
Military Strikes Cause New Displacement
MILITARY STRIKES CAUSE NEW DISPLACEMENT
Casualties and Displacement
More than 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory's health officials, while the Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Hamas does not usually disclose information about fatalities among its fighters.
The Israeli military struck at least six homes across Gaza in the past two days, causing damage to nearby houses and tent shelters and forcing many families to flee, residents and medics said.
Some owners of the houses, or their neighbours, got a call from the military ordering them to leave the area shortly before missiles struck the buildings, residents said.
Statements from Both Sides
The Israeli military did not comment directly on the strikes on houses, but said on Wednesday it had hit three areas across the Gaza Strip and dismantled three Hamas weapons storage facilities. On Tuesday, Israeli security forces said they had dismantled another three weapons depots belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied Israeli allegations, saying that Israel's targets were "the civilians and their homes."
Wider Context and Ongoing Conflict
Historical Background and Recent Figures
The 2023 Hamas-led attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel while another 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign, according to Gaza health authorities.
(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi. Additional reporting by Dawoud Abu Alkas and Alex Cornwell;Editing by Sharon Singleton, Aidan Lewis)