Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 12 civilians, including a family of six, according to local medics.
Video recordings show the inhabitants of the Al‑Sabra neighbourhood watching in horror as a family apartment erupts into flames overnight. The victims were a husband, his wife, and four young children. The family’s brother, Firas al‑Masri, told reporters that he was burned to death along with his wife Salsabeel and their son and daughters.
The Israeli army says it targeted a Hamas operative in the strike and that it is still investigating the outcome. No further comment has yet been made on the strike’s intended objectives.
In addition, a separate strike on a private home in the Al‑Samar area killed four civilians, while a drone attack on a vehicle in Al‑Zahra killed two more. The Israeli forces have not issued statements regarding those raids.
The Hamas‑run Health Ministry reports that 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire last October, while four Israeli soldiers were reported killed in Gaza during the same interval.
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the escalation on Tuesday, describing the increased attacks as a risky violation of international humanitarian law. It warned that further civilian casualties could amount to war crimes.
Between 13 and 20 July, 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women, were killed in strikes on residential buildings and a displaced‑persons camp—many far away from the so‑called Yellow Line that marks the territory controlled by Israeli forces.
The ongoing violence underscores that nearly a year after the ceasefire announcement, many Gaza residents continue to live under the threat of military strikes, a situation that remains critical for the region’s security and humanitarian stability.
