In brief
In a devastating raid on a Gaza City apartment, Israeli forces hit a house in the western al‑Sabra neighbourhood, killing parents, four children and a brother. Medics confirm the deaths after the building was set ablaze. Israeli officials say the target was a Hamas operative; the strike remains under review. UN human rights body condemned the attack, citing rising civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. With over a thousand Palestinians dead since the ceasefire, tensions surge as Israel intensifies its campaign.
A sudden blast tore through a high‑rise apartment in Gaza City’s western al‑Sabra neighbourhood, leaving six Palestinians dead—parents, four children, and their brother—according to local medics.
Local Reports
Video footage captured the building collapsing and the apartment on fire as dawn broke. Witnesses reported that the house was already ablaze when residents were forced to evacuate.
The brother of the deceased, Firas al‑Masri, told BBC he had perished alongside his wife Salsabeel and their four children: Faryal, Salma, Amira and Naim.
Medical teams, operating under severe radio silence, came to the scene to confirm six deaths, noting the severity of the injuries and the rapid spread of the fire.
Official Statements
The Israeli Defence Forces said the target was a Hamas operative, but they have yet to describe how the strike became a tragedy for a civilian household.
They continue to investigate the incident, saying they will cross‑check evidence before finalising the interpretation.
International Reactions
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the escalation in Gaza City, highlighting that 57 Palestinians, six children and eight women, were killed in strikes on residential buildings and crowded areas from 13 to 20 July.
UN spokesperson Thameen Al‑Kheetan warned that the killings of civilians “raise concerns of continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes in Gaza.”
Al‑Kheetan added that eight Israeli soldiers had also been killed in Palestinian‑side attacks during the same period, underscoring the high casualty toll on both sides.
In the broader context, Gaza’s health ministry reports that 1,168 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was established in October 2023. Israel’s military responses have claimed the targeting of Hamas‑aligned militants, aiming to curtail further hostilities.
With the Gaza Strip remaining deeply divided between Israeli‑controlled and Palestinian‑occupied territories, the new strike further fuels the human crisis and intensifies calls for renewed diplomatic engagement.
