Israeli Strike on Gaza City Apartment Kills at Least Five

At least five Palestinians have been killed and several others seriously wounded after an Israeli air attack struck a residential apartment in western Gaza City, according to Gaza's Civil Defence agency and medical workers at al-Shifa Hospital.

The strike hit the al-Asala building in the Remal neighbourhood early on Saturday while residents were sleeping. There was reportedly no warning before the attack.

Hospital sources said at least eight Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Saturday, including one person killed in Beit Lahiya in the north and two others who later died from injuries sustained in earlier attacks.

The Remal area is one of Gaza City's most densely populated neighbourhoods and has become home to thousands of displaced Palestinians living in makeshift shelters.

Witnesses reported hearing aircraft approaching before a series of explosions struck the apartment.

"The fighter jets became louder, followed by three strikes that hit the apartment and killed those inside," a reporter at the scene said.

The attack penetrated the targeted apartment and caused extensive damage to several floors below, leaving parts of the multistorey building heavily damaged.

'Another terrifying night'

A reporter in Gaza City described the overnight attack as another terrifying experience for residents.

Two large explosions were reported around 2am local time near the al-Haid roundabout. Initial reports indicated that the Israeli military had targeted a building with explosive drones, killing at least three women, a child and a young man.

Fires continued to burn for about an hour before Palestinian Civil Defence crews were able to extinguish them.

Rescuers described a devastating scene as residents were trapped beneath the rubble and emergency crews searched for survivors and the bodies of those killed.

Civil Defence teams continued their search after the attack while Israeli drones remained overhead and fighter jets were heard flying at low altitude over Gaza.

Christian mother and daughter among the dead

Two of those killed were Christian Palestinian women, Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Their deaths were announced by Ramzi Khoury, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine.

Relatives and friends gathered at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City for their funeral on Saturday.

Fouad Al-Najjar, a relative, said the deaths had left his family devastated.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed sorrow over the killings and offered condolences to the families and Gaza's Christian community.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem also mourned the two women, calling for an end to the bombardment and greater protection for civilians.

The patriarchate said it was praying for an end to the war and for a lasting peace that would allow families in Gaza to live safely.

Medical system under severe pressure

The latest attack came amid continued reports of violence and difficulties treating those wounded in Gaza.

Medical workers said shortages of medicines, equipment and other essential supplies are making it increasingly difficult to save severely injured patients.

A separate Israeli drone attack in southern Gaza on Thursday reportedly killed a Palestinian man and wounded several others.

The Rafah crossing on Gaza's southern border with Egypt has been opened only for limited movements, including the evacuation of some patients requiring treatment outside the territory.

The World Health Organization has warned that delays in the entry of medicines, prosthetics and other essential medical supplies are having serious consequences for Palestinians requiring urgent care.

Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 175,000 injured since the war began on October 7, 2023. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Thousands of people are also believed to remain missing beneath destroyed buildings.

Since a ceasefire began last year, at least 1,400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and nearly 5,000 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.