An Israeli drone strike in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday killed two Palestinian siblings and injured at least seven others, according to officials at Nasser Hospital in Deir al-Balah. The victims were identified as 15-year-old Islam Moussa and her 30-year-old brother, Abdullah. The attack targeted tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Muwasi camp, a heavily populated area in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military confirmed conducting a strike in the Muwasi area, stating the target was a Hamas militant. However, it did not provide further details regarding the operation or confirm any civilian casualties.
Relatives of the deceased mourned over their bodies, which were covered in white burial cloths at the hospital’s courtyard. That same day, another Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in western Gaza City, injuring at least 12 individuals, according to Shifa Hospital. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that two of the wounded were in critical condition and that most were women.
The Israeli military also claimed responsibility for the Gaza City strike, saying the strike targeted a Hamas operative and denied knowledge of harm to uninvolved civilians. Later on Saturday evening, additional strikes were reported in central Gaza, though no immediate casualty reports were available. Israeli forces said they were investigating the incidents.
These attacks come amid a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025, intended to pause large-scale hostilities between Israel and the Hamas militant group. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues near-daily airstrikes and shelling across Gaza, citing ongoing threats from Hamas and citing responses to ceasefire violations. Both sides accuse one another of breaching the terms of the agreement.
Since the truce took effect on October 10, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry—operated by the Hamas-led authority—reports that more than 1,030 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military actions. The ministry tracks casualties closely and is regarded as generally reliable by international organizations, though it does not distinguish between civilian and militant fatalities. In early June 2026, the ministry reported that over 250 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
A team of independent experts appointed by the United Nations has accused Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza and has reiterated allegations of genocide. Israel rejects these claims, denying it has committed genocide during the conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The ensuing Israeli military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 73,050 Palestinians, including those occurring after the ceasefire was implemented.
The ongoing hostilities and repeated strikes underscore the persistent volatility along the Gaza-Israel border despite diplomatic efforts to maintain peace. Authorities on both sides continue to exchange blame amid a protracted conflict that has had devastating humanitarian consequences.