Israeli Airstrike Targets Displaced Palestinians in Gaza, Killing One and Injuring Seven
A Palestinian man was killed and seven others sustained injuries following a massive explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on a tented camp in the central Gaza Strip this evening. The attack targeted the Al-Sitt camp, located just south of Deir al-Balah, which serves as a shelter for displaced Palestinians.
Details of the Deadly Strike
The state-run WAFA news agency, based in the West Bank, identified the deceased as 22-year-old Abdulrahman Qanbour. Gaza's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the death toll and casualties, while the Israeli military stated it is investigating the reports.
Videos from the scene depict two missiles striking the camp within seconds of each other. The first missile impacted the ground without exploding, followed two seconds later by a second missile that detonated nearby, producing a colossal fireball. Shockwaves from the blast hurled debris tens of metres into the air, accompanied by black smoke rising approximately 50 metres above the tents.
Eyewitness Accounts and Aftermath
Suhaila Khalil, a 57-year-old resident living in a tent in the area, described hearing screams as the strike tore through the camp. 'The explosion happened several hundred metres from our tent, but smoke and shrapnel rained down on displaced people, leaving several injured,' she recounted.
The shockwave visibly shuddered through the flapping white fabric of tent roofs, causing scores of people who had been milling around the camp to turn and flee in horror as the explosion enveloped part of the neighbourhood. Screaming and shouting were audible as residents ran for their lives. Afterwards, Palestinians were pictured inspecting the massive crater left by the explosives.
Ceasefire Violations and Regional Context
This incident occurs despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza that has been in effect since October 10 last year, following approvals by Hamas and the Israeli government under a US-brokered deal. According to Al Jazeera, Israel is said to have violated this ceasefire agreement at least 2,073 times between October 10, 2025, and March 18, 2026.
The civil defence agency noted that the Al-Sitt camp operates as a rescue service under Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel continues its broader military campaigns, including bombing in Iran alongside the US and approving plans for a ground invasion of Lebanon on Sunday, in response to Iranian-backed Hezbollah strikes.
Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel aims to take control of a large swathe of southern Lebanon as a buffer zone as part of its campaign against Hezbollah. The Lebanese health ministry reports that more than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers.
