Attack attributed to Israel kills Palestinians at funeral and in market in central Gaza

According to relief services and local witnesses, the victims were taking part in the funeral procession of a man who had been killed in another bombing attributed to Israeli forces in the same region earlier in the day.

The Gaza Civil Defense -controlled by Hamas- and the Al Awda hospital confirmed the number of victims of the bombing in the Al Balata market area. According to medical authorities, in addition to the eight dead, the offensive injured 20 to 22 people. Mahmud Basal, spokesman for the Gaza relief agency, confirmed to AFP that the projectile hit mourners attending the funeral.

Considering other military actions recorded on the same day, the total number of deaths this Friday rose to at least 13 Palestinians. Among the victims of separate attacks in different parts of the territory are two women and the man himself whose burial was taking place at the time of the bombing of the market.

Hamas condemned the action in Nuseirat, calling it a "brutal massacre" against civilians at a time of mourning, and urged the United Nations (UN) and mediating countries to act immediately to stop the Israeli attacks.

In turn, the Israeli Army confirmed responsibility for the offensive, stating that it had targeted and hit a "terrorist cell" belonging to the Islamic Jihad organization, a group that operates jointly with Hamas in parts of the Gaza Strip. The military also said it was "aware of allegations that uninvolved individuals were injured as a result of the attack."

WITHDRAWAL ORDERS AND PERSISTENCE OF VIOLENCE

Although the ceasefire agreement signed last October between Israel and Hamas terrorists remains formally in force, violence in the region persists, and diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting agreement to end the war are currently stalled.

Residents of an area east of Deir al-Balah, also in central Gaza, reported that Israeli forces used drones to transmit audio messages ordering the immediate evacuation of their homes, forcing dozens of families to flee in search of safety.

The truce managed to stop large-scale ground clashes, but it did not stop the almost daily airstrikes and bombings carried out by Israel, which it says are aimed exclusively at militant targets.

Data released by Gaza health authorities indicates that more than 1,127 Palestinians - the majority of whom are civilians - have been killed by Israeli military actions since the ceasefire began in October (numbers that the UN considers reliable).

Hamas, as a rule, does not disclose the number of casualties among its fighters. In the same period, four Israeli soldiers were killed by militants inside the territory.

Read Also: Future Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises less toxic policy in the United Kingdom