A drone strike attributed to the Israeli military has killed two Palestinian children in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local medics. The deadly incident unfolded in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, raising immediate concerns about the fragile ceasefire agreement.
The two victims were identified as brothers Juma and Fadi Tamer Abu Assi. Witnesses at the scene reported a drone dropping a bomb near a group of civilians on Saturday morning. This happened close to the al-Farabi School, an area densely populated with displaced families.
The boys suffered critical injuries in the blast. They were rushed to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Despite the efforts of medical staff, both were later pronounced dead, sources at the hospital confirmed.
The location of the strike in Bani Suheila reportedly lies beyond the so-called ‘Yellow Line.’ This boundary marks the Israeli forces’ redeployment limit under the ceasefire deal, which initially came into effect on October 10. The attack adds to a pattern of reported violations in the region.
Just a day earlier, the Nasser Medical Complex had confirmed the death of another Palestinian individual in the same Bani Suheila area, also by Israeli drone fire outside the Yellow Line.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military had already launched a wave of attacks across the enclave. Ground, naval, and aerial forces targeted several areas, escalating fears among residents.
Medical officials in the town of al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, reported three other Palestinians were injured as a result of sustained Israeli artillery and air bombardment. Furthermore, Israeli aircraft conducted raids in the Tuffah neighbourhood, located in the east of Gaza City.
Attacks were also reported hitting the eastern areas of Rafah city, at Gaza’s southern edge. The repeated strikes come as Hamas publicly calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to strictly adhere to the ceasefire terms.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of nearly 70,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children. Over 170,000 others have been injured in the relentless campaign. The continued breaches of the October truce are deepening the humanitarian catastrophe facing the territory.
