GAZA CITY, Palestine: At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday when an Israeli strike targeted a tent camp in Gaza City where a wedding ceremony was taking place, health officials said.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that at least six people were killed when a tent sheltering displaced families was struck in Gaza City near al-Rimal boys’ school, west of the city.
Wafa said most of the wounded were children.
A source at Al-Shifa Hospital, cited by Al Jazeera, said that at least 15 people were injured in the strike. Many of the wounded were being treated in intensive care, according to the hospital source.
The wounded included children, while medical officials said that some of the injured remained in critical condition.
Meanwhile, a man was killed in another strike earlier on Saturday in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis area, local medical sources said. The man was reportedly due to be married later in the day.
Hamas spokesperson Hazam Qassem condemned the strike, calling it a “horrific massacre” and accusing Israel of continued escalation.
He said the attack formed part of Israel’s “continued escalation of its war of extermination against civilians”.
The attacks came amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10.
According to Hamas, more than half of Gaza remains under Israeli military control despite the ceasefire terms.
The first phase of the agreement involved the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
A transition to a second phase — which was expected to include Hamas disarmament and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal — has reportedly been stalled for months.
Hamas spokesperson Qassem said talks in Cairo with mediators and Palestinian factions would focus on implementing the first phase of the agreement, including reopening border crossings and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He added that discussions would also address proposals linked to the second phase, including the possible deployment of international forces and disarmament issues.
