Israeli strike kills 5, including 4 women, in Gaza, say health officials

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City early Saturday claimed at least five lives, including four women, according to health and civil defense officials. The victims included a Christian mother and her daughter. No comment from the Israeli military was immediately available. The strike leveled an apartment building and sparked a fire.

Eyewitness Ahmed Al-Dahdouh recounted the chaos: "We were asleep and suddenly heard continuous strikes and heavy explosions. Our neighbors' house was struck, and we found dismembered martyrs, women, men, and children scattered under the rubble." The last US-brokered Gaza ceasefire, signed last year, aims for the territory's eventual reconstruction, but progress has been minimal.

It stipulates Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing its troops. However, Israel alleges Hamas has been rearming and violating the ceasefire, escalating strikes on the group recently. Hamas denies involvement in attacks and blames Israel for sabotaging the peace deal. Gaza health officials have reported over 1,400 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began last October. Israel maintains four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza during the same period.