Israeli Airstrike Kills Family of Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Death Toll Mounts

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Tuesday killed a family of six after their home was struck and engulfed in flames, according to Palestinian health officials, highlighting the continued violence despite an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Medical officials said the attack targeted a house in the Sabra neighborhood, killing Firas Al-Masri, his wife Salsabeel, and their four children, including three daughters and a son. Emergency responders reported that the strike ignited the residence, leaving no survivors from the immediate family.

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, stating that its intended target was a Hamas militant. Military officials said they are reviewing the outcome of the operation following reports of civilian casualties.

The latest incident comes as Israel continues near-daily military operations across Gaza despite the ceasefire that largely halted large-scale combat in October. Israeli authorities maintain that their operations are aimed at eliminating Hamas and other militant groups operating in the territory.

Separately, the Israeli military announced that it had killed three militants affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in strikes conducted since Friday. According to Israel, two of those militants participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel and were involved in holding Israeli hostages taken during the assault.

Gaza health officials said more than 1,150 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect. Hamas has not regularly released information regarding the number of its fighters killed during the conflict.

Israel has also reported continued attacks by militants in Gaza, with four Israeli soldiers killed during the ceasefire period.

The war began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which Israeli officials say killed around 1,200 people and resulted in approximately 250 hostages being taken. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. Palestinian health authorities say the offensive has killed more than 73,000 people.

The conflict has also displaced nearly all of Gaza's estimated two million residents, many of whom now live in overcrowded tents or damaged buildings along the coastal enclave under Hamas administration, as humanitarian conditions remain dire and prospects for a lasting peace remain uncertain.