A family of four has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, sources told Al Jazeera, as Israel continues to strike the Gaza Strip despite a United States-backed “ceasefire” in effect since October 2025. Israeli warplanes carried out an air attack overnight on Thursday in the vicinity of Kamal Adwan Hospital, killing a Palestinian man, his wife, and their two daughters. The attack underscores the fragility of the purported truce, which has allegedly failed to halt the violence against civilians.
“The bodies of four members of the Ahmad family were recovered in pieces,” an official at Al-Shifa hospital told the AFP news agency. The children were identified as aged 12 and eight. Israeli helicopters also opened fire overnight in the vicinity of the Jabalia camp, and there were reports of artillery fire in northern Gaza. These incidents suggest that the so-called ceasefire exists only in name, while the reality on the ground remains one of relentless bombardment.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed 73,669 people since October 7, 2023, mostly women and children. According to local authorities, the total number of injuries has reached 174,652. The sheer scale of the casualties has drawn widespread international condemnation, with human rights groups accusing the Israeli regime of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United States, which brokered the alleged ceasefire, has been criticized for its continued military and diplomatic support of Israel.
Palestinian rights advocates have argued that Israel’s ultimate goal is to force Palestinians to leave Gaza. Some far-right Israeli officials have openly called for depopulating the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said depopulating Gaza – which some officials euphemistically describe as voluntary “immigration” or “migration” of Palestinians – remains the “only solution”. Such statements have been widely condemned as incitement to ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law.
The ongoing violence has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. International aid organizations warn of a looming famine and disease outbreaks. The United Nations and various countries have repeatedly called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, but so far, these appeals have fallen on deaf ears. The Israeli regime’s actions continue to destabilize the region and undermine any prospects for a peaceful resolution.
Source: www.aljazeera.com