Palestinian health officials reported that Israel launched an airstrike on a tent encampment of displaced families in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the Gaza strip, killing a six-year old girl and a woman, and injuring 17 others. The deceased were identified as Mennatallah Abu Libda, aged six, and 31-year-old Hanan Mahmoud. According to witnesses, the attack was carried out by two helicopters.
The Israeli military told Reuters it had struck militants but did not provide further information.
The victims’ relatives arrived at the hospital to mourn their deaths.
“This little girl, a little bird from the birds of paradise, was playing at the door of her home,” said the child’s grandmother Soheir Abu Libda.
Continuous violation of ceasefire
Despite a ceasefire brokered by U.S President Donald Trump in October, Israel has continued to launch strikes on the Gaza strip. Health officials reported an estimate of around 900 Palestinians, who were killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire came into effect.
Khader Abu Libda, a relative of the deceased girl, said, “There is no ceasefire, nothing at all. It’s all just deceiving people, nothing more and nothing less.”
Meanwhile Israeli military claimed four of its soldiers had been killed during the same period.
Lebanon under attack
Israel has also intensified attacks on southern Lebanon on Monday, reportedly following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s orders to “crush” Hezbollah.
Despite a ceasefire that began on 17 April, Tel Aviv and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on an almost daily basis.
“I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations,” Netanyahu shared a video statement on his Telegram channel.
After the calls for escalations, residents fled the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is considered to be a Hezbollah stronghold.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the Israeli air force carried out successive strikes in the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon on Monday evening.
NNA also reported the deaths of three people in two cars and on a motorcycle, after Israel targeted several towns and villages in southern Lebanon in the early hours. Israel reportedly struck several towns near the ancient city of Tyre as well.
