Israeli military strikes and gunfire killed at least six Palestinians, including a 9 year old girl, across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian health officials said, as mediators continued efforts to preserve a United States brokered ceasefire and advance negotiations on a broader peace agreement.
The latest casualties were reported in Gaza City, central Gaza and Khan Younis, where Israeli forces carried out separate operations despite the ceasefire that has significantly reduced, but not ended, hostilities.
The deadliest attack occurred in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, where an Israeli airstrike hit a blacksmith workshop, killing four people and injuring several others.
Health officials at Shifa Hospital said the victims were brought there following the strike, while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that another 14 people were wounded during the attacks.
Witnesses said the workshop was struck by three missiles after residents received an Israeli evacuation warning. Roughly an hour later, additional airstrikes hit the same location.
The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, saying it targeted Hamas operatives inside what it described as a weapons production facility and terrorist infrastructure. It did not immediately provide further details.
In central Gaza, 9 year old Tala Abu Matar was killed by Israeli gunfire near a tent camp in the Al Bureij refugee camp, Palestinian health officials said.
The Israeli military said it was not aware of the reported incident.
Another Israeli strike later on Sunday hit a tent encampment in the Al Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, killing one person and wounding several others, including children, according to medical workers at Nasser Hospital.
The Israeli military acknowledged conducting operations in the area but said it was not aware of civilian casualties, describing the strike as part of routine military activity.
Separately, Israel said its forces had killed at least two Hamas fighters in northern Gaza since Thursday, alleging they were preparing attacks against Israeli troops.
The latest violence unfolded as Hamas representatives met Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the next phase of ceasefire negotiations under a peace framework brokered by the United States.
People familiar with the talks said discussions include Hamas disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from additional parts of Gaza and arrangements for implementing the second phase of the agreement. No breakthrough had been announced by Sunday.
Hamas has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, arguing that continued military operations have delayed progress toward the next stage of the agreement.
The ceasefire, reached in October 2025, brought an end to large-scale combat but has not halted Israeli military strikes targeting what Israel says are Hamas fighters and military infrastructure.
Israeli officials maintain that operations continue against militants who pose an imminent threat, while Palestinian health authorities say more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.
The conflict began after Hamas led fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign since then.
Nearly all of Gaza’s population of about two million people has been displaced at least once during the conflict. Many families continue to live in overcrowded shelters, damaged buildings or temporary tent camps with limited access to food, healthcare and clean water.
The continued exchange of attacks highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the difficulty of transitioning from military confrontation to a lasting political settlement. While large-scale fighting has declined, recurring strikes continue to undermine confidence between the parties and complicate efforts by regional and international mediators seeking a permanent end to the conflict.
What We Know So Far
Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least six Palestinians in separate incidents across Gaza on Sunday, including four people in Gaza City, a 9 year old girl in central Gaza and one person in Khan Younis. Several others, including children, were wounded.
What Authorities Are Saying
The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas operatives and weapons production facilities, while Palestinian health officials say civilians continue to bear the brunt of the attacks. Hamas maintains that repeated Israeli military operations violate the ceasefire and have slowed negotiations on the next phase of the peace agreement.
Why This Matters
The renewed violence comes as mediators attempt to preserve the ceasefire and move negotiations toward a broader settlement. Continued attacks risk undermining diplomatic efforts, worsening humanitarian conditions and delaying any lasting resolution to the conflict.
What Happens Next
Negotiators are expected to continue talks in Cairo on implementing the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, including security arrangements and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from additional areas. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies continue monitoring conditions as civilians remain vulnerable to renewed violence.
