Israeli strike hits Gaza shelter near al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah

An Israeli air strike has hit a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, killing at least one person and wounding several others. The strike took place early on Monday near al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The incident adds to the continuing toll of attacks in the enclave despite the ceasefire agreement in place since October 2025.

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The Israeli army said in a post on Telegram that it had targeted two militants in the Deir al-Balah area on Sunday night. It identified one of them as Muhammad Abdul Nasser Jaber Abu Asad and said he was a member of the elite forces of Hamas's military wing. The army said he had taken part in the 7 October attack on Israel and that the pair had recently been working to carry out operations against its forces and Israeli civilians.

It described the activity as a systematic violation of the ceasefire. The latest strike comes as Palestinian casualties continue to rise. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 1,288 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, while the overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 has reached 73,422, with 174,401 wounded.

On Sunday, three Palestinians, including a four-year-old child, were killed in strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza and az-Zawayda in the Deir al-Balah region. Another man wounded in Khan Younis later died from his injuries, and a separate wounded man died on Monday after an earlier strike near Gaza Port. The attack is significant because it took place near a hospital and hit a shelter used by displaced civilians, underscoring the continuing vulnerability of people who have already been forced from their homes.

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It also highlights the gap between the ceasefire framework and the reality on the ground, where both sides continue to accuse each other of violations. The reported target, Muhammad Abdul Nasser Jaber Abu Asad, was described by the Israeli army as part of Hamas's military wing, linking the strike to wider efforts to prevent the group from rebuilding its capabilities. Deir al-Balah has remained a focal point in the central Gaza area, while Khan Younis and az-Zawayda have also seen recent strikes.

The figures cited by the Palestinian Health Ministry point to the scale of the conflict's human cost and the persistence of lethal incidents even after the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli military statement also suggests that operations are being framed as part of a broader campaign against militants it says are preparing attacks and undermining the truce. What remains unclear is the full extent of the injuries from the shelter strike and whether any of those wounded are in critical condition.

It is also not possible from the available information to independently verify the military's account of the target or the circumstances of the attack. Further statements from medical officials and the Israeli military are likely to clarify the immediate consequences and whether the incident prompts any new diplomatic response.

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