GAZA CITY — Two Palestinians, including a doctor, were killed and several others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza on Saturday, as violence continued across the enclave despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire intended to halt major fighting.
The Palestinian doctor was identified as Dr. Jamal Abu Aoun, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in central Gaza. Mourners later gathered for his funeral in Deir al-Balah, where relatives and colleagues prayed over his body before burial. The death has renewed concern over the heavy toll the war has taken on Gaza’s already devastated health system.
Palestinian reports said another person was killed in a separate Israeli attack, while several others were wounded in strikes across Gaza. Israeli forces also reportedly demolished homes east of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, adding to the destruction of residential areas that have already been heavily damaged during the war.
The Israeli military had not immediately issued a detailed public statement on the latest deaths. In previous incidents, Israel has said its strikes target Hamas fighters, weapons sites and security threats. Palestinian officials and rights groups say repeated Israeli attacks continue to kill civilians and damage essential infrastructure.
The latest violence came during Eid al-Adha, a period that would normally be marked by family gatherings and religious celebration. In Gaza, however, many families remain displaced, living in tents or damaged buildings with limited access to food, clean water and medical care.
According to the Gaza Media Office, at least 922 Palestinians have been killed and 2,786 others injured in Israeli attacks since the October ceasefire. The broader war, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured over 172,000, according to Palestinian health figures.
The killing of another doctor highlights the severe strain on Gaza’s medical sector. Hospitals and clinics have struggled with shortages of supplies, damaged facilities, exhausted staff and repeated attacks near medical areas. International health organisations have warned that the loss of doctors, nurses and emergency workers has made it even harder to treat the wounded and manage disease risks.
The attacks also coincided with settler violence in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian homes and property were targeted in separate incidents.
For civilians in Gaza, the ceasefire has brought little sense of safety. While large-scale ground combat has eased, air strikes, demolitions and shootings continue to define daily life in the enclave.
