An Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in Gaza City killed five Palestinians, including four women, while the Israeli military stated the operation targeted a senior Hamas figure, news.detik.com reported. The predawn strike on Saturday destroyed the ground floor of the Al-Asala 1 apartment in the Al-Rimal district, according to reports from Anadolu, Reuters, and Islam Times.
Five Palestinians Killed in the Al-Rimal District Airstrike
The victims of the Saturday morning strike included a Christian mother and daughter who regularly helped refugees in Gaza. Maisa Abu Dawoud and her daughter Mary Najjar died when the building collapsed around 1:30 a.m. local time, family members told Anadolu. Fouad al-Najjar told reporters that the sudden blast took the lives of both his mother and grandmother. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem subsequently issued condolences and called for an immediate halt to the bombings.
Two other female victims were identified as university lecturer Yasmin al-Boubou and her mother, Halloum al-Boubou. Yasmin al-Boubou previously led the multimedia technology department at the University of Palestine’s College of Intermediate Studies. The fifth fatality remained unnamed in initial reports as civil defense teams recovered bodies from the rubble.
Israeli Military Targets Senior Hamas Operative Ali al-Amoudi
The Israeli military stated that the airstrike aimed to eliminate Ali al-Amoudi. According to military statements carried by AFP and Reuters, intelligence placed al-Amoudi inside the targeted apartment complex. The military added that results were still under review to determine if al-Amoudi was killed or injured.
Reuters reported that it remained unclear whether the strike targeting al-Amoudi was the exact operation that killed the five civilians. Hamas did not immediately issue a public statement regarding the military’s claims. Sources within Hamas identified al-Amoudi as the head of the group’s political office in Gaza.
Gaza Death Toll and Continuing Ceasefire Violations
The latest casualties arrive amid persistent violence despite a ceasefire framework brokered the previous year. According to Antara News, citing the Gaza Ministry of Health and Anadolu, Israeli military actions since the October 2025 ceasefire have killed 1,445 Palestinians and left 5,072 wounded. Islam Times reported that the cumulative death toll since October 2023 reached 74,228 fatalities, with more than 175,000 injured across the enclave. Additional airstrikes and artillery fire in Beit Lahia, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah were reported by medical sources over the same weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Gaza Airstrike
Which church did the victims Maisa Abu Dawoud and Mary Najjar support?
The two victims were church servants who regularly assisted refugees in Gaza.
Where was academic Yasmin al-Boubou employed before her death?
Yasmin al-Boubou worked as a lecturer in the multimedia department at the College of Intermediate Studies within the University of Palestine, where she previously served as the head of the multimedia technology department.
How many total Palestinian casualties have been recorded since the October 2023 conflict began?
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that cumulative fatalities have reached 74,228, with over 175,000 others injured during the hostilities.
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