Israeli strikes across Gaza leave 14 dead including people at funeral gathering

At least 14 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Friday, including several people attending a funeral procession in central Gaza. The latest violence has renewed concerns over the continued fighting despite a ceasefire that has officially been in place for months.

The deadliest incident took place in the Nuseirat refugee camp where an Israeli drone struck a crowd gathered near the Ahmad Yassin Mosque in the Al Balata market area. According to local civil defence officials and Al Awda Hospital, eight people were killed and at least 20 others were injured in the attack. Witnesses said mourners had gathered outside the mosque to begin the funeral procession of a Palestinian who had been killed earlier that day in another Israeli strike. Moments before the procession started, the drone targeted the crowd, causing heavy casualties and panic among those present.

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike and said it had targeted what it described as a terrorist cell operating in central Gaza. It also acknowledged reports that civilians may have been harmed and said the incident was under review. Hamas strongly condemned the attack and accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire while civilians continued to suffer.

Violence was also reported in several other parts of Gaza throughout the day. In Beit Lahia in the north, a 52 year old woman was killed after an Israeli drone dropped a bomb near Abu Tammam School, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Another Israeli strike in the town of Az Zawayda in central Gaza killed one person and left several others injured.

In the Al Sawarha area west of Nuseirat, one person lost their life after Israeli fire hit a building where displaced families had taken shelter. Another drone strike targeted an apartment in Gaza City, killing one Palestinian and injuring several others, including children. In southern Gaza, a woman died from wounds she had suffered during earlier Israeli gunfire near Khan Younis.

Although a ceasefire came into effect last October, attacks have continued across the territory on a regular basis. Aid agencies, local officials and international observers have repeatedly expressed concern over the continued violence and its impact on civilians who remain trapped in difficult humanitarian conditions.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project reported this week that Israeli military operations in Gaza have increased in recent months. The organisation recorded more than 40 strikes during the previous month, making it the highest monthly total since the ceasefire began. The findings have raised further doubts about whether lasting peace can be achieved and whether reconstruction efforts will be possible in the devastated enclave.

Residents say drones remain a constant presence in Gaza’s skies, creating fear among communities already struggling with displacement and destruction. Ongoing attacks have continued to damage homes and public infrastructure while many families remain without stable shelter or essential services. The continuing violence has added to uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire and the prospects for restoring normal life in the territory.