Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Gaza City, Including Hamas Commander, as Ceasefire Death Toll Tops 940
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Gaza City, Including Hamas Commander, as Ceasefire Death Toll Tops 940
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 4
Summary
At least 11 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in pre-dawn Israeli air strikes on four residential buildings in Gaza City, medics and witnesses said.
Witnesses said three Israeli helicopters launched near-simultaneous strikes over Sheikh Radwan, Tel al-Hawa and Shati camp; among the dead was Hamas commander Hassan Labad, along with his wife and three children.
Medical and civil defence officials said the victims included women and children, including two children with disabilities from the Labad family, while videos showed residents fleeing a burning building in Shati.
Israel gave no immediate comment, but it has kept striking Gaza despite a US-brokered ceasefire, saying Hamas is rearming and rebuilding its forces.
More than 940 people have been killed since the ceasefire began last October, Gaza health authorities say, as the wider war's reported death toll exceeds 72,950.
With a US-brokered ceasefire failing, how is Hamas rebuilding its forces and what does this mean for Gaza's future?
As Israel faces genocide accusations and expands its control, what power does international law have to stop the violence?
Gaza 2026: Ceasefire Fragility, 72,939 Dead, and the Collapse of Hamas Leadership Amid Humanitarian Crisis
Overview
Since the ceasefire declared on October 11, 2025, violence and humanitarian challenges have persisted in Gaza. The ceasefire has been fragile, with Hamas initially delaying the return of deceased hostages and Israel restricting humanitarian aid below agreed levels. Despite eventual recovery of all hostage remains, ongoing attacks and internal conflict in Gaza have continued. Israeli military operations in late May 2026 targeted and killed senior Hamas leaders, further destabilizing the group. These events have deepened the humanitarian crisis, strained essential services, and raised urgent questions about future governance and prospects for peace in the region.