Health officials in the Gaza Strip report that an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in the northern neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan killed at least two Palestinians, including a child, and injured seven others on Tuesday. The Israeli military briefly acknowledged the incident, stating it had targeted a militant in the vicinity. According to eyewitnesses, a secondary strike hit a group of bystanders who had rushed to assist the initial victims. An unverified video circulated by Reuters appeared to show a missile detonating near several men attempting a rescue.
Earlier in the day, Palestinians gathered to mourn Ahmed Al-Batsh and Rafat Zummar, two individuals killed in separate Israeli strikes the day prior. Both the Israeli military and Hamas sources identified Al-Batsh as a local Hamas commander, noting he was killed during an attack on his vehicle in northern Gaza. At his funeral inside Gaza City’s Al Shifa Hospital, Al-Batsh’s body was wrapped in a green Hamas flag and adorned with an M16 assault rifle. His relative, Khalil Al-Batsh, stated that such killings fail to eliminate their devotion and instead strengthen their resolve to continue their resistance. Meanwhile, the Israeli military also classified Zummar as a Hamas commander, though the militant group has not yet commented on his specific affiliation.
These ongoing targeted killings and airstrikes highlight the fragility of the U.S.-backed ceasefire established in October 2025. While the agreement successfully halted full-scale warfare, it has failed to stop routine strikes or advance the broader peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which mandates an Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hamas.
Both sides continue to trade blame for the stalling peace process. Hamas accuses Israel of routinely violating the truce and undermining peace efforts, while Israeli officials maintain that Hamas is the party breaching the agreement. Since the ceasefire went into effect, Gaza health authorities report that over 1,300 Palestinians, the vast majority being civilians, have been killed. In contrast, the Israeli military reports the deaths of four of its soldiers during the same period, though Hamas traditionally keeps the fatality numbers of its own fighters heavily guarded.
