Israeli airstrike on Gaza City apartment results in five fatalities

An Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment in the Rimal area of Gaza City has resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals and left at least six others severely injured, according to medical personnel at al-Shifa Hospital. The attack occurred early on Saturday without prior warning, as reported by Al Jazeera’s Hani al-Shaer from Khan Younis. The Rimal neighborhood is known to be one of the most densely populated areas in Gaza City, housing thousands of displaced individuals in makeshift camps. Al-Shaer noted that the strike took place during the night when many residents were asleep. Eyewitness accounts described hearing fighter jets before three strikes hit the apartment, resulting in casualties. The airstrike penetrated the targeted apartment and caused damage to the floors below, leading to further destruction within the multi-storey building. Fires burned for approximately one hour before being extinguished by Palestinian Civil Defence crews. Al-Shaer characterized the aftermath as severe, with individuals trapped under rubble. Civil defence teams continued to search the site for missing persons as Israeli drones and fighter jets were reported in the vicinity. Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed that among the deceased were four women, including an elderly Christian woman and her daughter. The six injured individuals were transported to al-Shifa Hospital for medical care.