Israeli airstrike kills five Palestinians, including Christian mother and daughter, in Gaza building

An airstrike by the Israeli Army killed five Palestinians, including four women, in an apartment building in Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday (3), according to authorities from the health services and Civil Defense.

Among the dead were a Christian mother, Maisa Abu Dawoud, and her daughter Mary, according to health professionals and the local Church.

Israeli forces said later on Saturday that they carried out an overnight attack on an apartment in Gaza in an attempt to kill Ali al-Amoudi, who heads the political office of the Hamas terrorist group.

It was not immediately clear whether this was the same attack that killed the five Palestinians. Israeli forces said the results of the attack were being analyzed, while Hamas did not comment.

The attack that killed the five Palestinians destroyed the apartment building and caused a fire. "We were sleeping and suddenly we heard continuous attacks and intense explosions. The children woke up scared and started running and screaming," said Ahmed al-Dahdouh, who witnessed the case.

"We ran out and discovered that our neighbor's house had been hit and there were dismembered martyrs, women, men and children. We started to remove them from there; they were scattered under the rubble," he told Reuters.

Israel, which says Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of the ceasefire, has intensified attacks against the group in recent weeks. The terrorist group has denied trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal and accuses Tel Aviv of undermining the Gaza peace agreement.

The ceasefire in Gaza, brokered by the US last year, provides for the eventual reconstruction of the territory. But little progress has been made in implementing an agreement to end the conflict, which includes provisions for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.

Friends, including Muslims, and relatives gathered at the Church of Saint Porphyry in Gaza City to pay their respects during the funeral of the Christian mother and daughter. Christians represent just 1% of Gaza's population of more than 2 million.

"Today is essentially the worst day of my life. I lost my mother and grandmother today," said Fouad al-Najjar.

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem mourned the deaths of Maisa and Mary and expressed condolences to the family.

"We pray for an end to the war and bombings, for the protection of civilian lives and for a just peace, in which the people of Gaza can feel safe for their children and loved ones. May their memory be eternal," said the religious entity.

Gaza health officials said at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since last October's ceasefire. Israel says four of its soldiers were killed by terrorists in Gaza in the same period.