Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike on a funeral in the central Gaza Strip left at least seven dead and 22 injured, while other attacks in the besieged coastal territory left five more dead, according to local officials.
The Israeli army claimed to have struck a terrorist cell belonging to the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It indicated that it was aware that civilians might have been injured in the attack.
The Awda Hospital, in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, confirmed the death toll from the attack in central Gaza, stating that several people were hit by fire during the funeral of a Palestinian who had died in an attack that occurred hours earlier on Friday. In that attack, which left two dead, the Israeli army claimed to have targeted a Hamas militant, without providing further details.
According to local health officials, Israeli gunfire also caused the death of three other people on Friday, including two women, in northern Gaza, Gaza City, and Khan Younis.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has waged a fierce war against Israel, called the attack on the funeral an “atrocious crime.”
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Israel and the militant group agreed to a ceasefire in October with the goal of ending a war that had already lasted two years.
The most intense fighting has subsided, but at least 1,123 people have died in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, according to the territory’s Ministry of Health.
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The ministry, which has been part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are generally considered reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. It does not provide a breakdown of civilians and militants, but states that the majority of those killed are women and children.
Militants have carried out armed attacks against troops, and Israel claims that its attacks are in response to this and other violations. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its attacks in Gaza, targeting people in cars, tents, buildings, and on the street. It claims to be pursuing Hamas and other armed groups, but there have also been civilian casualties.
According to the independent monitoring group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, Israel carried out 40 attacks against militants in June, the highest monthly figure since the start of the ceasefire.
The war began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 dead and 251 hostages. The Israeli retaliatory offensive in Gaza has caused the death of more than 73,264 Palestinians, including those who have died since the ceasefire, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
