Twenty-three killed, including six children, in Israeli attack on Gaza

At least 23 Palestinians, among them six children, have been killed in renewed Israeli tank shelling and air strikes across the besieged Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials. The deaths were reported on Wednesday, 4 January, amid growing concern that the fragile ceasefire arrangement is steadily eroding despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise the situation.

Health authorities said some of the dead were killed in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, where a particularly harrowing incident claimed the life of a medical professional. According to officials, the doctor rushed to assist wounded civilians following an initial strike, only to be killed when a second attack hit the same location shortly afterwards. Such incidents, often described as “double strikes”, have drawn repeated criticism from humanitarian organisations due to the risk posed to rescue workers and first responders.

In northern Gaza City, Israeli attacks also caused civilian casualties. Health officials confirmed the death of a five-month-old infant, highlighting once again the vulnerability of children and non-combatants in densely populated areas of the enclave. Hospitals across Gaza, already strained by shortages of medicine, fuel and staff, were reportedly overwhelmed by the influx of injured civilians.

Eyewitness accounts paint a bleak picture of the violence. Abu Mohammed Haboush, a relative of one of the affected families, said they were asleep inside their home when a tank shell struck the building directly. “Our children were martyred,” he said, referring to his own son as well as his brother’s son and daughter. “We are not involved with anything. We are peaceful people.” His account echoes numerous civilian testimonies collected by local medical teams in recent weeks.

The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire by Hamas. According to the army, Hamas fighters opened fire on Israeli troops positioned near the security fence, seriously wounding one soldier. The military said its response was defensive and targeted.

Hamas, however, strongly condemned the attacks. In a statement, the group accused Israel of undermining efforts to stabilise the ceasefire and called for immediate international pressure to halt further violence. It warned that continued strikes could push the situation back towards full-scale conflict.

In January, US President Donald Trump announced the launch of a second phase of the ceasefire process. This phase was intended to address key political and security questions, including Gaza’s future governance and large-scale reconstruction. However, major points of contention remain unresolved, notably the withdrawal of Israeli forces from more than half of Gaza’s territory and demands for Hamas’s disarmament.

Since the ceasefire came into effect, Gaza’s health authorities say at least 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, the majority of them civilians. During the same period, attacks by Palestinian fighters have killed four Israeli soldiers, according to Israeli sources. The rising toll on both sides has fuelled fears that without sustained diplomatic engagement, the truce may collapse entirely.

Reported Casualties Since Ceasefire

As international mediators continue to press for calm, the latest bloodshed underscores how precarious the situation remains for Gaza’s civilian population, particularly children, who continue to bear a disproportionate share of the suffering.