Israeli Attacks Claim Six Palestinian Lives in Gaza, Including Father and Son

Israeli forces have killed at least six Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with local health sources confirming the casualties included a father and his 13-year-old son. On Tuesday, three individuals died in an Israeli air attack targeting the Ghubain family home in Gaza City’s Daraj area. A separate air strike on a tent in the Zeitoun neighbourhood resulted in the deaths of a father and son. Additionally, an Israeli gunfire incident in the southern city of Khan Younis claimed one life.

These killings occur amidst ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year. Data from Gaza's Ministry of Health indicates that over 1,600 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the besieged enclave since the United States-brokered truce. The ministry also reported that more than 74,000 people have perished in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The recent fatalities coincide with severe weather conditions. Over the weekend, the season's first major storm flooded approximately 70,000 tents housing displaced people in Gaza within 12 hours, causing at least five deaths and an estimated $3 million in damage, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. Israel's restrictions on essential supplies are exacerbating the crisis, with the country blocking 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents while permitting only 20,000 tents into Gaza, where about 85 percent of homes are damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian aid is also being significantly restricted.

Meanwhile, negotiations have stalled regarding terms for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its troops from Gaza. Israel currently controls about two-thirds of the territory, and Palestinian residents have been ordered to evacuate areas within it.