Israeli forces have killed 11 members of a Palestinian family in Gaza, marking the deadliest single violation of the fragile ceasefire since it came into effect eight days ago.
The attack occurred on Friday evening when a tank shell struck a civilian vehicle carrying the Abu Shaaban family in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to Gaza’s civil defence. Seven children and three women were among those killed as the family attempted to return home to inspect it, civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said.
“They could have been warned or dealt with differently,” Basal said, adding that the incident “confirms that the occupation is still thirsty for blood and insists on committing crimes against innocent civilians.”
Hamas condemned the attack as a “massacre,” asserting that the family was targeted without justification, and called on United States President Donald Trump and mediators to pressure Israel to uphold the ceasefire agreement.
The incident occurred as Israeli soldiers opened fire on people who crossed the so-called “yellow line,” the demarcation from which Israel was supposed to withdraw under the ceasefire terms.
Many Palestinians lack internet access and are unaware of Israeli positions along the demarcation lines, putting families at risk. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that the yellow lines will soon be clearly marked.
Israeli forces currently control approximately 53 percent of Gaza, Khoudary added. Since the ceasefire began, at least 28 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, and the flow of urgently needed aid—including food and medical supplies—remains heavily restricted.
Last week, Israeli forces killed five Palestinians in the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City. Israel has continued to seal the Rafah crossing with Egypt and blocked other key border crossings, preventing large-scale aid deliveries into the enclave.
The United Nations warned this week that aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas, with 49 percent of residents accessing less than six litres of drinking water per day, well below emergency standards. The World Food Programme has delivered an average of 560 tonnes of food daily since the ceasefire began, far below what is required to address widespread malnutrition and prevent famine.
Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, including the return of Israeli captives still trapped under rubble. The group handed over the body of another captive on Friday evening, bringing the total to 10 since the truce began. Hamas stated that heavy machinery and excavation equipment are needed to retrieve more bodies, but Israel has blocked their entry, creating “a challenge for the residents of Gaza who are experienced and have the expertise to search and dig out bodies from under the rubble.”