An Israeli military operation targeting what the Israeli military described as a “terrorist cell” affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad resulted in casualties at a funeral gathering in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp. The Awda Hospital documented seven deaths and 22 injured from the strike, which occurred at a funeral service for a Palestinian killed in an earlier attack the same day. The Israeli military stated it was aware that civilians may have been affected by the operation.
Additional Israeli military operations elsewhere in Gaza on Friday resulted in further casualties. Three additional deaths were reported in northern Gaza, Gaza City, and Khan Younis, according to local health officials. The Palestinian political and militant organization Hamas characterized the funeral strike as “a heinous crime.”
The incidents occurred within the framework of a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October, which was intended to end a two-year conflict. Since the ceasefire’s implementation, Gaza’s Health Ministry has documented at least 1,123 deaths in the territory. The ministry, which operates under Hamas-led governance structures, is regarded as maintaining reliable casualty documentation by United Nations agencies and independent analysts, though it does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties in its public statements. According to available information, women and children constitute the majority of reported deaths.
Israel has stated that its recent military operations target militant group members in response to reported violations of the ceasefire agreement, including shooting attacks against troops. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect. According to the independent monitoring organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, Israel conducted 40 attacks targeting militants in June, representing the highest monthly operational tempo since the ceasefire began. Israeli officials state their operations target Hamas and allied organizations, though civilian casualties have also occurred in connection with these operations.
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