GAZA: An Israeli drone strike killed a father and his daughter in central Khan Younis in southern Gaza early on Saturday, as violence in the Palestinian enclave continues despite global attention shifting to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
According to Al Jazeera, the two were killed in an early morning strike in Khan Younis. In a separate incident later the same day, another person was killed and a young girl was injured in another attack in the area.
Israeli forces have continued daily military operations in Gaza, including air strikes, artillery shelling and naval bombardment, despite a ceasefire announced on October 11.
Conditions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank remain severe, with humanitarian challenges persisting as the international focus turns to the wider regional conflict involving Iran.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said two additional people had been injured in the past 48 hours.
Heavy gunfire
Reports also indicated that Israeli army-affiliated militias had advanced east of Gaza City, where heavy gunfire was reported. Initial reports suggested a member of the Palestinian police had been abducted.
Israeli warplanes reportedly carried out strikes east of the Tuffah neighbourhood near Gaza City, while the Israeli navy fired machine guns and shells towards the Gaza coastline, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The Rafah border crossing remains closed after Israel shut it amid its military campaign related to the conflict with Iran. The crossing had only reopened last month, allowing a limited number of Palestinians—including patients requiring urgent medical treatment—to leave the territory.
Another crossing, Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom), remains partially open but only for the entry of humanitarian aid under strict restrictions.
Nearly the entire population of Gaza’s more than two million residents has been displaced during the invasion, leaving the territory heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance.
Israeli restrictions
A Human Rights Watch report published in February said Israeli restrictions had contributed to shortages of medicine, reconstruction materials, food and water in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire announcement, the Gaza Health Ministry says 640 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,700 injured. Since October 2023, at least 72,123 Palestinians have been killed and 171,805 wounded.
In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its teams treated a Palestinian who was shot with live ammunition near the Karmei Tzur settlement north of Hebron.
Three more Palestinians were injured after being physically assaulted by Israeli settlers in Ras al-Ahmar, south of Tubas, according to Wafa.
Israeli forces also carried out raids early on Saturday in the towns of Qaffin and Kafr al-Labad, north of Tulkarem.
Another Palestinian man was reportedly injured after being beaten by Israeli soldiers near the village of Azmut, east of Nablus.
According to United Nations figures, at least 1,094 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since October 2023, amid intensified military operations and settler violence.
