Three members of the same family, including a six-year-old girl, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Deir al-Balah area of the Gaza Strip, as efforts to reach a ceasefire remain stalled. According to medical sources cited by the Palestinian Wafa news agency, the victims were identified as Omar Abu Qassem, his wife Asma, and their daughter, Habiba. The son of the family was pulled alive from the rubble of the hit apartment and was transported to hospital for medical treatment.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not officially commented on the attack. However, The Times of Israel, citing a military source, reported that the target of the operation was a Hamas member.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 13 people were killed and 18 others were injured in attacks in the past 24 hours. The incident comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to implement a ceasefire agreement in Gaza have stalled. According to reports, negotiations brokered by the United States have failed to produce progress, leading to a new escalation of violence. Since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, more than 1 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have lost their lives, according to data reported by the parties.
He lost his entire family.
Palestinian family of three, a father, mother, and their daughter, were killed after an Israeli strike struck their home in central Gaza early Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/XxLDOY8CGz
— WAFA News Agency – English (@WAFANewsEnglish) July 15, 2026
