Fresh Israeli attacks across the blockaded Gaza Strip have killed five Palestinians, including two children, according to Palestinian officials, Al Jazeera, and Reuters. The latest casualties occurred despite the framework of a nominal ceasefire in the war-torn territory.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education reported that seven-year-old Wafaa Aqila and her father were killed by an Israeli strike targeting the vehicle they were riding in. The family was returning home after purchasing school supplies just days before the scheduled start of the new academic term. Hours later, an Israeli artillery shell struck the Sakina School in Deir al-Balah, which is currently serving as a shelter for displaced families. That strike resulted in the death of a young first-grade student, Saadi Ghalia. The education ministry strongly condemned the ongoing violence, stating that while children globally prepare for school, minors in Gaza face continuous annihilation.
According to figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry on Monday, at least five people were killed and 30 others wounded over the preceding 24-hour period. Additionally, two more Palestinians succumbed to wounds sustained in previous military strikes. Ministry records indicate that at least 1,352 individuals have been killed and 4,511 wounded since the ceasefire took effect in October. The cumulative death toll since the broader conflict escalated in October 2023 has now reached at least 73,658 fatalities, with 174,622 others reported injured.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly voiced alarm over the persistent targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools functioning as emergency shelters. Rescue operations remain severely hampered by ongoing military activity and fuel shortages across the enclave. Medical facilities continue to struggle with an overwhelming influx of casualties amid a severe shortage of essential supplies and medications.
Diplomatic efforts led by international mediators have faced repeated hurdles as hostilities persist on multiple fronts within the enclave. The deepening humanitarian crisis continues to draw widespread condemnation from international bodies, while residents trapped in the conflict zone face mounting deprivation and daily security threats.
