At least three Palestinian were killed and seven others injured during Israeli attacks carried out overnight across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, according to local medical sources. The incidents come amid growing concerns over breaches of a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Sources cited by Al Jazeera said Israeli raids targeted locations in southern Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as the Zeitoun neighbourhood in southeastern Gaza City. Additional strikes were reported in other densely populated parts of the besieged enclave.
Civilian Casualties and Military Activity
In one reported incident, an Israeli quadcopter strike killed a Palestinian man while he was being transported to a hospital in Khan Younis, medical officials told Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that two men were shot dead by Israeli forces east of the Zeitoun area. Wafa also documented artillery shelling in eastern sections of the Tuffah and Zeitoun neighbourhoods, along with gunfire from Israeli military vehicles later in the day.
Air raids were also reported in central and northern Gaza, with Israeli aircraft striking areas east of the Bureij refugee camp, as well as neighbourhoods in Jabalia and Beit Lahia. In addition, Israeli naval forces shelled coastal areas in the north, according to Wafa.
Ceasefire Lines Under Pressure
Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza City, described an atmosphere of escalating tension, noting the persistent presence of Israeli drones and continued attacks beyond agreed ceasefire boundaries.
He said extensive demolition activity has been observed in Rafah, eastern Khan Younis, and the Jabalia refugee camp—areas that have seen prolonged Israeli military operations. According to the correspondent, the destruction appears to be expanding zones under Israeli control, potentially influencing future ceasefire negotiations.
Israeli Military Response
Separately, the Israeli army stated on Saturday that its forces had killed three Palestinians in southern and northern Gaza, alleging the individuals posed a threat to Israeli troops. One was accused of stealing military equipment. It remains unclear whether these deaths correspond to the same incidents reported by Palestinian medical sources.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Cold Weather
Beyond the violence, Gaza’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. A seven-day-old Palestinian infant died on Saturday due to extreme cold, medical sources confirmed. The child, Mahmoud al-Aqraa, died in Deir el-Balah as nighttime temperatures dropped sharply.
Many displaced families are living in makeshift tents made of thin fabric and plastic sheets, offering little protection from wind and rain. Aid agencies say restrictions on the entry of tents, mobile homes, and construction materials have worsened conditions across the territory.
Nighttime temperatures in Gaza have fallen to around 9°C (48°F) in recent days.
Warnings of a Growing Emergency
The Gaza Civil Defence issued a warning of a potential “catastrophe,” citing widespread damage to temporary shelters caused by severe weather. Thousands of tents were reportedly destroyed or rendered unusable.
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said the crisis is not solely due to weather conditions, but also the continued restrictions on building materials and reconstruction efforts. According to the United Nations, nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed during more than two years of conflict, leaving hundreds of thousands without permanent shelter.