Gaza City strike kills teenager walking to school exam, family says

An Israeli strike in Gaza City killed a 16-year-old student on Monday, relatives said. Raghad Hassan Ashour was walking to high school for an exam. The blast happened on a crowded street in the Rimal district. The Israeli military said the strike aimed at a Hamas militant. The military said it knew of claims that a bystander was hurt.

Representative image

Jameel Ashour, a relative, said Raghad Hassan Ashour was heading to an 11th grade test. After the strike, mourners gathered at Shifa Hospital. Dozens of Palestinians attended, including Ashour’s mother. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said three other people were injured in strikes in the same area.

Gaza ceasefire strikes and civilian casualties

Israel has kept carrying out strikes in Gaza despite a ceasefire deal reached in October. The military says it targets Hamas and other militants seen as threats. Israel has also accused Hamas of breaking the ceasefire terms. Civilian deaths have also been reported during these attacks, according to local officials.

Video footage from the site showed heavy damage in the Rimal district. People stood around two vehicles that were destroyed. Rescue workers were seen nearby during the aftermath. Bloodstains were visible on the road surface. The visuals suggested a rapid response by people in the area after the blast.

Gaza ceasefire toll and war figures

The Gaza health ministry said Israeli actions have killed over 1,000 Palestinians since the ceasefire was agreed. The ministry shared the figure last week. Since the truce began, five Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to reports. The figures reflect continued violence after the October ceasefire announcement.

The war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel. Israeli authorities said 1,200 people were killed in that attack. The assault also involved 251 hostages being taken, Israel said. Israel then began a military offensive in Gaza in response to the incursion.

Gaza’s health ministry said Israel’s offensive has killed 73,018 Palestinians, including deaths after the ceasefire. The ministry operates under the Hamas-led government in Gaza. It is staffed by medical professionals and keeps detailed records. United Nations agencies and independent experts often view these records as generally reliable.

The ministry does not separate civilians from militants in its published totals. It has said women and children account for about half of the dead. Monday’s strike in Gaza City added to concerns about civilian harm during continued attacks. The military maintained it was targeting a militant, while relatives described a student on the way to an exam.

With inputs from PTI