Key facts
- At least four people, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes and tank fire in Gaza on Monday.
- The strikes occurred a week after a U.S. delegation urged Israel to reduce its attacks.
- Israel stated it targeted Hamas weapons storage facilities inside mosques.
- The Gaza health ministry reports over 73,422 Palestinians killed since Israel's offensive began.
- Israel expressed concern over kites sent from Gaza, threatening increased strikes if they continue.
Israeli strikes and tank fire killed at least four people, including two children, in Gaza on Monday, according to hospital officials. The violence occurred a week after a U.S. delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge a reduction in attacks.
One family was unable to flee an Israeli strike on a building in the Bureij refugee camp, resulting in the death of a 4-year-old child and injuries to his mother and sister. The Israeli military stated it conducted strikes in the Shati refugee camp and Deir al-Balah, targeting what it described as Hamas weapons storage facilities within mosques, claiming to have found rifles and military equipment.
Earlier, an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah killed a man identified by Israel as a Hamas militant. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, an Israeli strike killed another man and wounded five others, while separate Israeli tank fire killed a 10-year-old girl. The Israeli military stated it was not aware of the incident involving the child.
Israel has continued targeted killings in the week following the U.S. delegation's visit, with strikes announced on six of the seven days. Gaza's health ministry reports that at least 1,288 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire took hold in October. Militants have continued shooting attacks on Israeli troops, and Israel cites these as violations justifying its strikes, noting five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.
Palestinian officials have reported strikes on homes and police stations, with Hamas asserting that these attacks aim to destabilize Gaza and impede progress on the ceasefire's next steps, including demilitarization and reconstruction. Israeli officials have also expressed concern over kites found near Gaza, similar to those used to start fires before the Oct. 7 attack, threatening increased strikes if Hamas does not ensure they stop flying toward Israel. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem dismissed the kites as "children's toys" and accused Israel of using them to justify further aggression.