Gaza Strikes Leave Five Dead, Three Charity Kitchen Staff Among Victims in Deir el-Balah

Military strikes linked to Israel left at least five Palestinians dead in several areas of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, reports indicated. Three of the deaths took place in Deir el-Balah, a central Gaza community where an assault struck a shared kitchen facility. Further fatalities were reported in Khan Younis and Beit Lahiya.

Hind Khoudary of Al Jazeera, speaking from Gaza City, reported that the three people killed at the Deir el-Balah site were all charity workers. "This shows that Israel is not only targeting people, but also organisations serving the community across Gaza," Khoudary added.

Hamas issued a sharp response to that incident. The movement described it as "a deliberate war crime and a renewed scene of the ongoing genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip". Its statement went on: "This occurs amid an unjustified international silence and inaction that emboldens the occupation to continue its massacres, in blatant disregard for all international values, norms, and laws."

Data published Sunday by Gaza's Health Ministry placed total Palestinian deaths from Israel's campaign at no fewer than 72,760 since 7 October 2023. The ministry recorded at least 871 additional deaths since the ceasefire that began last October.

Israeli forces now control roughly 60 per cent of Gaza, including a demarcated buffer area referred to as the "yellow line". Within that zone on Sunday, the army said troops had killed an individual it described as armed and posing an imminent threat to soldiers. The announcement offered no evidence to support that account.

The military release also said a Hamas commander, Bahaa Baroud, had been killed. Hamas had not verified that claim at the time reports circulated.