Israeli forces launched airstrikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip on Thursday, 8 January, in a blatant breach of the ongoing ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians. Among the victims were five children, according to medical sources cited by a Qatar-based news outlet.
The attacks targeted multiple locations across Gaza. In the south, at Al-Mawasi, Israeli strikes hit tents set up for displaced families, killing at least four people. In Gaza City’s Zeitoun area, another four were killed in a separate attack. Additional bombings were reported in central Gaza’s Bureij and Nuseirat districts.
Tragically, in northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, 11-year-old Hamsa Husu was fatally shot. Her uncle, Khamis Husu, described the harrowing scene: “I woke up to the screams of my family. I saw Hamsa lying on the floor, blood flowing from her nose and mouth.”
Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in October last year, Israel has continued airstrikes in Gaza, prompting international concern.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) condemned Thursday’s attacks on displaced families as war crimes. The group accused Israel of deliberately targeting Gaza to make it uninhabitable, stating: “This occupying power disregards any ceasefire, using deception and false security justifications to carry out killings and forced evictions.”
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, since 11 October, Israeli attacks have killed at least 425 Palestinians and injured 1,206.
The repeated bombings have left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced, forcing them to seek refuge in temporary shelters across Gaza. Humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations, have warned that Israel’s restrictions on aid and access to shelters exacerbate the suffering, particularly during the severe winter storms currently affecting the region.
Casualties from Thursday, 8 January Strikes
| Location | Deaths | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Mawasi | 4 | Tents for displaced families targeted |
| Gaza City (Zeitoun) | 4 | Residential area bombed |
| Bureij & Nuseirat | Not specified | Central Gaza strikes |
| Jabalia | 1 | 11-year-old girl, Hamsa Husu |
| Total | 14+ | Includes five children |
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing airstrikes, destruction of homes, and limited access to essential aid contributing to a deepening crisis.