Israeli airstrike kills members of family in Gaza

During the early hours of Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential area in central Gaza Strip. The attack claimed the lives of members of the same family, including women and children, while they were sleeping in their home.

Neighbors rushed to the scene following the attack to help save those who had survived and pull bodies out of the rubble. They condemned Israel’s targeting of civilians. The Israeli military claimed that the attack targeted the home of the Islamic Jihad’s rocket unit chief. However, relatives, neighbors and an Islamic Jihad spokesman rejected the claim.

The deadly airstrike came amid a flare-up in violence, with Israel carrying out attacks against the Gaza Strip and Palestinian resistance groups, including the Islamic Jihad, responding by rocket attacks.

On Thursday the Islamic Jihad and Israel’s military confirmed that they’ve reached a ceasefire which was brokered by Egyptian and UN officials. The escalation was triggered by Israel’s assassination of top Islamic Jihad commander Bahaa’ Abu Al Atta on Tuesday.

Dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and many more injured in the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. 15 schools were also damaged and many homes were destroyed in the attacks. However, people here say no Israeli aggression can kill the Palestinian resistance.