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At least five members of a single family, including a father and his two daughters, were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building on al‑Thalatini Street in Gaza City on Saturday morning, according to medical sources cited by Wafa. Israeli Airstrike Targets Residential Building on al‑Thalatini Street The strike struck a multi‑family dwelling in the heart of Gaza City, killing the father, his two daughters, and later the mother who succumbed to injuries. The mother was initially wounded and died later that day. Additional residents were injured, and the area reportedly received no prior warning, as noted by Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abuo Azzum. Casualty Toll and Humanitarian Statistics Since October 1,007 people killed in Gaza since the U.S.–brokered ceasefire in October. 3,165 wounded in the same period. Total deaths in the Gaza Strip since the war began in October 2023: 73,018. Approximately 2.2 million residents have acute humanitarian needs. Escalating Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Blockade Israel continues to restrict the entry of food, medical aid, and shelter materials, while maintaining a military presence over large swaths of the enclave. Recent strikes also hit a tent shelter in al‑Mawasi, Khan Younis, injuring five people on Friday evening, and heavy gunfire was reported from Israeli naval vessels off southern Gaza. Potential Trajectory of Violence and International Response With civilian casualties rising and aid channels constrained, international pressure on Israel to adhere to ceasefire terms is intensifying. Observers warn that further indiscriminate strikes could trigger broader diplomatic actions, including renewed UN investigations and possible sanctions, while the humanitarian situation may deteriorate further if access restrictions remain unchanged.

The Gaza City Drone Strike At least three Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded after an Israeli drone struck a vehicle near Abu Khadra Mosque in the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City, according to medical sources. Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary, reporting from Gaza City, said the attack on Thursday was the first explosion in the area after a few "calm and quiet" days. Minutes after the strike, locals said the target was a jeep driven by civilians. Only one of the three victims has been identified: Abdul Jawad Abu Lebn, who was set to get married next week. Wedding invitations were found inside the car. The Ongoing Violence in Gaza Earlier on Thursday, Israeli fire wounded a fisherman off Gaza's coast and a man near Khan Younis in the south, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported. A girl was also killed in Israeli gunfire in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza, according to Al Jazeera's correspondents on the ground. The latest series of deadly attacks comes despite a US-brokered "ceasefire" announced in October last year. Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 1,007 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce took effect, bringing the overall death toll in the enclave to 73,018 since October 7, 2023. Peace Board Plans for Gaza The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) said on Thursday that it had finalised priorities for recovery and reconstruction and was ready to begin field operations "once conditions permit". The NCAG, which is composed of independent Palestinian technocrats, said the announcement followed a coordination meeting in Cairo with British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss recovery and reconstruction priorities in Gaza. The committee is overseen by the Board of Peace, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Countries Condemn West Bank Mosque Attack Amid continued Israeli attacks in Gaza, violence has not halted in the occupied West Bank. In a joint statement on Thursday, eight countries condemned what they described as an escalation in Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, following attacks on mosques north of Ramallah. The foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye denounced recent attacks on the Great Mosque in Jiljilya and the Farouk Mosque in the Nubani area.

The Search for Truth Wafa Mustafa's story is one of love, loss, and determination. Her father, Ali, was abducted in 2013 by armed men in Damascus, and she has been searching for him ever since. This is not an isolated case in Syria, where over 177,000 people have been forcibly disappeared since 2011. The Power of Documentary Filmmaking Mustafa has teamed up with filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, known for her Bafta-winning documentary For Sama, to create a new documentary short called Maybe Tomorrow. The film explores Mustafa's journey and the impact of enforced disappearances on families and communities. The Human Cost of Enforced Disappearances The Syrian Network for Human Rights estimates that over 177,000 people were forcibly disappeared in Syria between 2011 and 2025. Many were arbitrarily detained, tortured, and killed. The documentary aims to raise awareness about this issue and the struggles faced by families of the disappeared. A Global Story of Love and Violence Mustafa's story is not just a Syrian issue, but a global one. Amnesty International notes that while men are the majority of victims of enforced disappearance, women often lead the struggle to find out what happened to their loved ones. The Fight for Justice Continues Mustafa's fight for truth and justice is ongoing. Despite the challenges, she remains determined to find out what happened to her father and to ensure that others do not suffer the same fate. The documentary serves as a tool to keep the issue alive and to push for accountability.

The Fatal Shooting in HebronIsraeli forces opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank, killing a seven-month-old boy and wounding his parents. Sam Fahd Abou Haikal was killed and his parents injured in the city of Hebron on Friday "after the occupation forces opened fire on them", the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.Details of the IncidentDr Tareq Barbarawi told the AFP news agency that the infant was taken to hospital but died from his injuries. Ferial Abu Haikal, the grandmother of the infant, told the Wafa news agency they were "surprised" when the Israeli soldiers fired at them although their vehicle was "completely stopped"."There was no danger or justification for firing," she said.The Human CostThe death of the infant represents the tragic human cost of the ongoing conflict in the region. The young victim's family has been left grieving while dealing with injuries sustained by the parents.The Military ResponseThe Israeli military said in a post on X that during "operational activity", the soldiers "perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them". It said the soldiers responded with "single shots toward the vehicle" and as a result, "three Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment".An initial inquiry found "those injured were uninvolved civilians", the Israeli military said, adding that the incident was under review.The Regional ContextViolence in the occupied West Bank has escalated since Israel began its war on Gaza in October 2023. Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,080 Palestinians in the West Bank since, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Health Ministry data.

Israeli military operations in Gaza have intensified this Friday, with drone strikes killing civilians and injuring dozens, even as a ceasefire technically remains in place. Palestinian factions are traveling to Cairo to discuss the future of the enclave, highlighting the fragile and contested nature of the truce. Intensified Israeli Drone Strikes Defy Ceasefire Terms On Friday morning an Israeli drone struck the southern Khan Younis area, killing a young woman and wounding at least 15 people, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency. Later the same day another strike near Gaza City injured a child. The attacks follow Thursday’s raid that killed at least 11 Palestinians, including five members of the same family. Casualty Toll Since Ceasefire: Numbers Reveal Growing Human Cost 947 people killed 2,935 injured Deaths and injuries have risen steadily since the ceasefire was declared in October. Humanitarian and Political Fallout of Ongoing Bombardment The continued strikes have kept crossing points closed, hampering medical evacuations and aid deliveries. Residents describe a “pervasive state of fear and panic,” with repeated incidents causing displacement and trauma. Politically, the ceasefire’s second phase—Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal—remains stalled, prompting Hamas officials to travel to Cairo for talks on how to enforce the first phase and halt further attacks. Prospects for a Sustainable Ceasefire and Regional Talks Hamas representatives are meeting Egyptian mediators this weekend to “finalise the implementation” of the first phase and discuss mechanisms to prevent further Israeli strikes. International observers warn that without a credible enforcement mechanism, the truce could collapse, leading to renewed large‑scale hostilities. The coming days will test whether diplomatic engagement can translate into a tangible reduction in violence.

The Diplomatic Warning The high representative overseeing the United States-founded Board of Peace for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, has warned that the deteriorating status quo in the devastated Palestinian enclave risks becoming "permanent." Speaking to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Mladenov presented a roadmap detailing obligations for Israel and Hamas to implement a permanent ceasefire. "Let me say this clearly: the implementation cannot advance through Palestinian obligations alone," Mladenov said, speaking via video call. "The continued killings and Israeli restrictions affecting humanitarian flows are not abstract issues." He urged the UNSC to use "every means at its disposal" to press Hamas to disarm, while also saying that Israel must uphold its commitment under a ceasefire agreed in October. The Humanitarian Crisis The war that Israel launched following the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups was halted by a ceasefire in October 2025. More than 72,775 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. But the Israeli military maintains a strict security regime, and many hundreds more have been killed in the past seven months. Conflict monitors warn that since the ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran was struck last month, Israeli bombardment of Gaza has accelerated. Violent raids by settlers and the military in the occupied West Bank have also been increasing. On Thursday, an Israeli drone attack killed a 26-year-old in Gaza's al-Mahatta area, east of Deir el-Balah city, according to Wafa news agency. The Stalled Peace Process In January, the US announced that the Gaza "ceasefire" was moving to phase two, which is supposed to focus on Hamas's disarmament, long-term governance and the establishment of a panel of Palestinian technocrats to lead post-war Gaza. It also calls for the gradual retreat of the Israeli army, which still controls more than 50 percent of the Palestinian territory, and the deployment of an international stabilizing force. But with the war in Iran drawing the world's attention amid a global energy crisis, the transition to the second phase has been stalled for weeks. Mladenov, a veteran Bulgarian diplomat, warned of the risks of inaction by both parties. The Regional Implications "The risk is that the deteriorating status quo becomes permanent: a divided Gaza, Hamas holding military and administrative control over two million people across less than half the territory," Mladenov said. "Those people are likely to remain trapped in the rubble, dependent on aid with no meaningful reconstruction, because reconstruction financing will not follow where weapons have not been laid down." "And the result? Another generation growing up in tents in fear, with despair as the most rational thing for them to feel." This, he said, is a scenario that Israelis, Palestinians and the region "should all fear and mobilize to avoid."

The Fatah Leadership Elections Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has cast his ballot in internal Fatah leadership elections held at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. The leaders were elected for the movement’s Central Committee and Revolutionary Council at the Ahmad Shuqairi Hall on Saturday. The Electoral Process After casting his vote, President Abbas pressed to ensure the success of the democratic process that he said would reflect the unity of the movement and its commitment to renewing its leadership institutions, the Wafa news agency reported. The congress is Fatah’s highest decision-making body. The ongoing election is taking place at one of the most volatile junctures in Palestinian history amid Israel’s genocidal war. Historical Context and Participation This eighth congress was originally due in 2021 but has been delayed for five years. The previous meeting, the seventh congress, took place in 2016. Nearly 2,580 members are participating across four locations – Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo, and Beirut – to overcome the geographical fragmentation of the movement. Abbas' Vision for Future Elections “This year is the year of democracy. We held an important conference for the Fatah youth, followed by the holding of local elections last April,” Abbas said. “Today is the Eighth Conference of Fatah, and we are preparing for the elections of the National Council in November, as well as the general and presidential elections, starting with the drafting of the constitution, the political parties law, and the general elections law,” the 90-year-old leader continued. The Impending Succession Question The result of the Eighth General Conference of Fatah is scheduled to be announced on Saturday evening local time. The question of who will eventually succeed Abbas looms large over the conference. Analysts see the congress as a move to weaken democratic mechanisms and install a circle of loyalists in key positions to manage the transition.

UNICEF said it is outraged after Israeli forces killed two drivers it had hired to deliver clean water at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza on Friday morning, prompting the agency to halt activities there and demand a thorough investigation.The incident occurred during routine water‑trucking operations; two additional people were wounded. UNICEF immediately suspended all work at the site and urged Israeli authorities to ensure full accountability for the attack.In a statement, UNICEF emphasized that “humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted,” underscoring that protecting aid personnel is a binding obligation under international humanitarian law.Palestinian health authorities report that more than 750 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the U.S.–Qatar‑brokered cease‑fire began in October, while overall death tolls in the Gaza conflict exceed 72,000 since the war erupted on October 7, 2023.Separately, in the occupied West Bank, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian man, Muhammad Ahmad Suwaiti, was shot dead by Israeli forces in Khirbet Salama, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.The Israeli military described the West Bank incident as the elimination of a “terrorist who infiltrated the community of Negohot in Judea and Samaria,” without specifying the responsible party.Since the Gaza war began, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,060 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, highlighting the widening humanitarian crisis beyond Gaza.

Ali Majed Hamadneh, 23, was killed after Israeli settlers opened fire during a raid on the West Bank village of Deir Jarir, north‑east of Ramallah, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Saturday. He was transported to the Palestine Medical Complex in critical condition and later succumbed to his gunshot wounds.The Palestinian news agency Wafa described the attack as carried out by "armed colonists, under the protection of Israeli forces," who entered the village from its western entrance and fired on residents. The Israeli military has not issued an immediate comment.This raid occurs just two days after Israel approved 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move denounced by the Palestinian Presidency, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union as a breach of international law.Since assuming office in 2022, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right‑wing government has sanctioned at least 102 settlements, a marked increase compared with previous administrations. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 2023, and a further spike in deadly settler attacks has been reported since the United States‑Israel conflict with Iran started at the end of February, according to Palestinian authorities and the United Nations.While settler assaults have persisted for years, the recent surge has drawn criticism from influential rabbis, settler leaders, and Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir, who labeled the attacks "morally and ethically unacceptable."