Palestinians hold funerals for pregnant woman and her children killed in Israeli strikes

Palestinians on Saturday buried a woman pregnant with twins and two of her children who were among at least 13 people killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.

The toll on Friday included two men who were killed in Gaza City, and eight others killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to local hospitals. Officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said the eight people, including four police officers, were killed after Israel targeted a police vehicle.

Khalid Al Tanani, of Beit Lahiya, recalled the series of strikes that killed his wife and two of his four children in the northern Gaza Strip.

Mourners weep next to the body of a child, at a hospital in Gaza City, after three people — a woman and her two children — were killed when Israeli artillery struck residential homes in Beit Lahiya. AFP

"With the first shell, thank God we all survived and were calling out to each other. Then they fired the second, third, and fourth shells one after the other. Their voices fell silent. I went inside and found my wife, Islam Al Tanani, martyred, and my son, Hamza, and Naya in her mother’s arms. I found them martyred.” The children were 4 and 13 years old.

Hamza’s 13-year-old twin survived, along with another of the couple's children. Al Tanani said they had just started talking about gathering baby items and clothes for the twins.

Palestinians mourn over Naya Al Tanani, killed in an Israeli strike, at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. AP

Family members wailed over the bodies on Saturday. "You took my soul with you, Hamza, you took me with you and broke me, Hamza,” his grandmother sobbed.

Israel's military said several Hamas members had threatened troops in the area and the military targeted them in an airstrike after warning civilians. Al Tanani said the strikes came without prior notice.

While the heaviest fighting has mostly subsided, deadly Israeli strikes have repeatedly disrupted the truce since it took effect on Oct.10.

Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians, including police officers, who were killed in an Israeli strike on Friday. Reuters

The escalating Palestinian toll has prompted many in Gaza to say it feels like the war has continued unabated.

Israeli forces frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 790 people since the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was put in place six months ago, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The

Overall, the health ministry says 72,300 Palestinians had been killed since the war in Gaza began with the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel

Associated Press