Israeli airstrike hits Gaza City after evacuation warning
The Israeli military carried out an airstrike on Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning to residents.
Footage from the scene showed several missiles striking the area, causing large explosions and sending smoke and debris into the air as residents and journalists fled.
After the strike, people returned to inspect the damage, including a large crater at the impact site.
“Our neighbours had a blacksmith workshop, and it was hit. They [IDF] told us to evacuate the area. So, we evacuated our children before they hit the area. You can see the destruction,” eyewitness Wael Manasra said.
Palestinian media reported that four people were killed and others were injured after the strike hit a blacksmith workshop on Al-Sina'a Street in southwestern Gaza City.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had targeted a “weapons production site,” alleging that Hamas operatives were using the location to manufacture weapon components.
“In a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas operatives operated from a weapons production site to produce weapon components in an attempt to rehabilitate the organisation's military capabilities,” the IDF said in a statement.
The military added that “steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.”
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attacks killed 1,139 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and more than 200 people were taken hostage.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's military campaign has killed 73,223 Palestinians and injured 173,654 others since the conflict began.
In January, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced the second phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, aimed at moving from a ceasefire toward demilitarisation, technocratic governance and reconstruction.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
