An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Saturday claimed the lives of at least 18 members of the same family. The strike hit a house and a nearby warehouse where displaced people were seeking refuge at the entrance of Zawaida, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where the victims were brought. An Associated Press reporter confirmed the death toll.
Among those killed was Sami Jawad al-Ejlah, a wholesaler who had coordinated with the Israeli military to supply Gaza with meat and fish. The victims included his two wives, 11 children aged 2 to 22, their grandmother, and three other relatives, as per the hospital’s records.
“He was a peaceful man,” said Abu Ahmed, a neighbor. At the time of the airstrike, over 40 civilians were sheltering in the house and warehouse.
The strike occurred just hours after mediators expressed hope for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, following 10 months of conflict. A joint statement from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar indicated that a proposal to bridge the gaps had been presented, with further details to be discussed in Cairo next week.
Mediation efforts are focused on securing the release of Israeli hostages and ending the ongoing violence, which has devastated Gaza and led to over 40,000 deaths, alongside a potential polio outbreak. Talks also aim to reduce regional tensions, which could escalate into a broader conflict, particularly if Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon retaliate against Israel for recent targeted killings of militant leaders.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted “terrorist infrastructure” in central Gaza, where rockets had been fired toward Israel in recent weeks. They noted that operations against militants in the area were continuing.
In conjunction with the airstrike, a mass evacuation order was issued for parts of central Gaza. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee advised Palestinians in and around the urban Maghazi refugee camp to evacuate due to Palestinian rocket fire.
Ahmad Omrani, affected by the evacuation, said, “The suffering began the day we left our homes. We live in constant fear and anxiety, especially for the children. You can’t sleep, sit, or eat properly.”
The United Nations reports that the majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced, often multiple times, with approximately 84 percent of the territory under evacuation orders by the Israeli military.
The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas militants crossed the border, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 250 others to Gaza. During a November cease-fire, more than 100 hostages were released, but around 110 remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities estimating that a third of them may have been killed.
Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 Hamas militants, though this has not been independently verified.
Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 40,074 Palestinian deaths during the conflict, without distinguishing between fighters and civilians.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israel’s military reported attacking a “terrorist cell” in Jenin. The local health ministry confirmed that two bodies were brought to a government hospital, and Hamas identified them as commanders in its military wing.
Mediators are working on a three-phase plan, which includes Hamas releasing the hostages in exchange for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
These efforts have taken on added urgency after the recent killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the death of Hamas’ top political leader in Tehran, both incidents widely attributed to Israel.
