Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least five Palestinians, including two children, according to Palestinian officials, despite the continuation of a ceasefire in the war-ravaged territory.
The latest casualties were reported as Gaza continues to face the effects of the prolonged conflict, with Palestinian authorities reporting that people have remained at risk despite the ceasefire that took effect in October.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education said seven-year-old Wafaa Aqila and her father were killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle they were travelling in after purchasing school supplies.
According to the ministry, Wafaa was due to begin the new school year just days after she was killed.
The ministry condemned the attack, highlighting the circumstances of the girl’s death as families in Gaza prepared for the start of another academic year amid continuing insecurity.
Wafaa’s death has also underscored the impact of the conflict on children, many of whom have experienced repeated disruption to their education and daily lives.
Hours after the vehicle was struck, an Israeli artillery attack hit the Sakina School in Deir el-Balah, according to Palestinian officials.
The school was being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians who had been forced from their homes by the conflict. The attack killed Saadi Ghalia, a first-grade student, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said.
The ministry condemned the attacks and drew attention to the contrasting experiences of children in Gaza and those in other parts of the world preparing to return to school.
It said that while children elsewhere were preparing for a new academic year, children in Gaza were being subjected to what it described as “killing and annihilation”.
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The Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday that at least five Palestinians were killed and 30 others wounded in the previous 24 hours.
The ministry also reported that two Palestinians died after succumbing to wounds sustained in earlier Israeli attacks.
The latest figures add to the growing number of casualties recorded in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.
According to the Health Ministry, at least 1,352 Palestinians have been killed and 4,511 others wounded since the ceasefire took effect in October.
The figures include casualties reported in attacks and incidents across the territory during the period covered by the ministry.
The Gaza Health Ministry said the wider Israeli military campaign, which began in October 2023, has resulted in the deaths of at least 73,658 Palestinians.
A further 174,622 Palestinians have been wounded since the beginning of the war, according to the ministry’s figures.
The continued reporting of deaths and injuries despite the ceasefire has raised further concerns about the fragile security situation in Gaza.
The latest casualties also come as displaced Palestinians continue to face difficult living conditions, while schools and other civilian facilities have been used to shelter people affected by the conflict.
The reported attacks and casualties have renewed concerns over the durability of the ceasefire and the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The deaths of children in the latest incidents have further drawn attention to the impact of the conflict on Gaza’s younger population, particularly as families attempt to resume education and other aspects of daily life.
Palestinian authorities continue to report casualties from Israeli attacks, while the humanitarian situation remains a major concern across the territory.
Al Jazeera
