An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Saturday killed at least 18 members of the same family, including Sami Jawad al-Ejlah, a wholesaler who coordinated with the Israeli military to supply meat and fish to Gaza. The strike targeted a house and an adjacent warehouse in Zawaida, where more than 40 civilians had taken shelter. Among the dead were al-Ejlah’s two wives, 11 of their children aged two to 22, a grandmother, and three other relatives. The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at “terrorist infrastructure” in central Gaza, but acknowledged that civilians were killed and said the incident was under review.
This incident occurred amid ongoing efforts by international mediators to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 10 months of conflict. The war began on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 250 others to Gaza. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive military operations in Gaza, resulting in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s health ministry, with thousands more injured or buried under rubble.
Negotiations for a ceasefire, involving the release of hostages and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, have been ongoing. While U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism about a potential deal, a senior Hamas official dismissed the notion that an agreement was close, calling it “an illusion.” The situation remains volatile, with mass evacuations ordered in parts of central Gaza and widespread displacement across the territory.
