Israeli forces killed 11 members of a Palestinian family in Gaza on Friday evening, marking the deadliest single violation of the fragile ceasefire since it began eight days ago. The victims, including seven children and three women, were part of the Abu Shaaban family, who were traveling in a civilian vehicle in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City to check on their home when a tank shell struck, Gaza’s civil defence reported.
“They could have been warned or dealt with differently,” said civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal. “What happened confirms that the occupation is still thirsty for blood and insists on committing crimes against innocent civilians.”
Hamas condemned the attack as a “massacre,” saying the family was targeted without justification and called on U.S. President Donald Trump and other mediators to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire.
The shelling occurred after Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians who crossed the so-called “yellow line,” a demarcation where Israeli forces were meant to pull back under the ceasefire agreement. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported that many Palestinians lack internet access and are unaware of the positions of Israeli forces along these lines, putting families at risk. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the yellow lines will soon be clearly marked. Currently, Israeli forces control roughly 53 percent of Gaza.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 38 Palestinians and heavily restricted aid, including food and medical supplies, according to Gaza’s Medio Office. Last week, five Palestinians were killed in the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City.
Israel has kept the Rafah crossing with Egypt sealed and blocked other key border points, preventing large-scale delivery of aid. The United Nations has warned that aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas, with nearly half of Gaza’s population accessing less than six litres of drinking water per day, well below emergency standards. The World Food Programme has managed an average of 560 tonnes of food daily since the truce began, far below what is needed to prevent malnutrition and famine.
Hamas has said it remains committed to the ceasefire, including returning the remains of Israeli captives trapped under rubble. On Friday evening, the group handed over another body, bringing the total to 10 since the truce began. However, Hamas has complained that Israel is blocking heavy machinery needed to recover more bodies, making the search for the missing captives increasingly difficult.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported that Israel’s restrictions on equipment are creating serious challenges for Gaza residents, who have the expertise to locate and retrieve bodies from under rubble but lack the necessary tools.
