Israeli Strike Claims 12 Lives in Gaza; Six Are from One Family
Local medics have confirmed that a total of 12 Palestinians were killed in three separate Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip.
A devastating blow was dealt to the family of Firas al‑Masri when video footage captured their apartment on fire overnight in the western al‑Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City. According to the brother of the deceased, Firas, his wife Salsabeel, and their children – Faryal, Salma, Amira and Naim – were burned to death inside the home.
The Israeli military says it was targeting a Hamas operative, and says it is still investigating the results of the attack. No statement has yet been made regarding the other two strikes.
On Tuesday afternoon, four more people were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a home in the al‑Samar area of central Gaza City, as reported by Palestinian media citing medics. Another four were killed in a drone strike on a vehicle in the al‑Zahra area south of Gaza City.
The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, reports that 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire took effect last October. In contrast, four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Gaza over the same period.
The UN Human Rights Office condemned the recent intensification of Israeli military attacks, stating that “nine months after a ceasefire announcement, nowhere is safe for Palestinians in Gaza.”
The UN Human Rights Office noted that between 13 and 20 July, at least 57 Palestinians – including six children and eight women – were killed in strikes on residential buildings, a tent camp for displaced families, and other crowded areas. Thirty‑four of those people were “killed far away” from the so‑called Yellow Line, which marks territory in Gaza controlled by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military has recently announced attacks targeting members of Palestinian armed groups said to have participated in the Hamas‑led assault on Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Israel responded with a massive military campaign in Gaza, which the territory’s health ministry says has already killed over 73,290 people.
