At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured after an Israeli air strike hit a residential building in one of the busiest market districts in Gaza City, according to local medics and eyewitnesses.
The strike targeted the upper floors of the al-Kayali building as crowds of shoppers filled the streets ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. Witnesses reported that at least five missiles struck the building almost simultaneously from multiple directions, causing widespread destruction and panic across the area.
Emergency response teams and civil defence crews rushed to the scene but faced major difficulties reaching the upper floors due to severe structural damage and heavy congestion around the market district. Footage from the aftermath showed ambulances, rescue workers, and crowds gathering around the damaged building late into the night.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the Israeli military had targeted Mohammed Odeh, identified as a senior commander in Hamas’s armed wing. Israeli authorities described Odeh as one of the key planners behind the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
According to the Israeli government, Odeh was responsible for attacks that resulted in the deaths, injuries, and abductions of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Neither Israel nor Hamas has confirmed whether Odeh was killed in the strike.
The attack comes days after another Israeli operation reportedly killed Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, a former commander within Hamas’s armed wing, in a similar strike on a residential building.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that began on 10 October, Israel has continued carrying out air strikes across Gaza. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the truce and targeting civilians, while Israeli officials argue that military operations against Hamas members remain justified.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims more than 800 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect. Israel, meanwhile, insists Hamas has failed to comply with ceasefire terms, particularly regarding disarmament.
Efforts to advance a US-backed peace initiative for Gaza have stalled amid ongoing regional tensions and conflict involving Iran. The proposed second phase of the peace plan included the establishment of a transitional technocratic administration in Gaza, alongside reconstruction and demilitarisation efforts, but negotiations remain deadlocked.
The war began after Hamas launched its October 2023 attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign across Gaza that has devastated much of the territory and displaced large numbers of civilians.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 72,744 people have been killed during the conflict, figures that the United Nations has described as broadly reliable.
The latest escalation in Gaza also follows deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where at least 11 people were reportedly killed. Israeli officials say the attacks targeted Hezbollah infrastructure as military operations continue across multiple fronts.