Israeli strikes and gunfire kill Palestinians in Gaza despite ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes and gunfire killed multiple Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, according to health officials, amid ongoing violence that continues to test a ceasefire agreement in place since October. The latest incidents highlight the persistent instability in the territory despite the truce.

On Sunday, health officials reported at least five fatalities from Israeli actions across Gaza. Three people were killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a community kitchen in the central city of Deir al-Balah. Another Palestinian died in a strike in the southern Mawasi district of Khan Younis, while Israeli gunfire killed a fifth person in Gaza City. Medical sources reported several others were wounded in these incidents, with some in critical condition.

These events followed a significant Israeli strike on Friday in Gaza City that killed a senior Hamas commander. The Israeli military stated it had killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, whom it identified as the head of Hamas's military wing and one of the last surviving senior planners of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Hamas confirmed al-Haddad's death, stating he was killed alongside members of his family. Local...