Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
An Israeli airstrike targeting a civilian vehicle in eastern Gaza City on Friday evening resulted in the deaths of 11 members of the same Palestinian family, including seven children and three women, according to local medical sources and eyewitnesses. The attack marks the deadliest incident since a ceasefire agreement came into effect two weeks ago.
The victims were members of the Abu Shaaban family, who were reportedly returning to their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood when their vehicle was struck. According to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense, all those inside the vehicle were killed instantly. The sole adult male among the victims was also confirmed dead.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was hit by an Israeli artillery shell shortly after crossing into an area designated as a “yellow zone” a term used locally to refer to areas that the Israeli military has marked as no-go zones for civilians. These zones, often lacking clear signage or public communication, have led to repeated incidents of civilian casualties.
No immediate comment was issued by the Israeli military regarding the strike in Gaza City. The absence of a formal statement has only intensified questions about the circumstances and legality of the attack, which comes at a time of fragile calm following international mediation.
The ceasefire agreement currently in place was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, with support from the United States, and was intended to halt weeks of escalating violence and provide a window for humanitarian relief and negotiations.
Separately, earlier in the day, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that an Israeli warplane had targeted what he described as a group of militants who emerged from a tunnel in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza and approached Israeli ground forces, posing an “immediate and direct threat.” He also stated that another group was spotted exiting a tunnel in Rafah and opening fire on Israeli troops, though no casualties were reported.
The airstrike that killed the Abu Shaaban family has cast a shadow over the tenuous ceasefire, raising alarms among humanitarian organizations and international observers. Civilian casualties, particularly involving women and children, have consistently drawn global condemnation and have underscored the persistent volatility of the situation on the ground in Gaza.
Human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the incident, citing concerns over the targeting of civilians and the apparent violation of international humanitarian law. As tensions threaten to escalate again, the latest tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the high civilian cost of the conflict.
