CAIRO — Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including a paramedic and his son, according to Palestinian health officials, as mediators pursued renewed efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas.
The deaths were reported on June 15 in separate incidents across Gaza, health officials said. Medics said an Israeli airstrike killed a woman in the town of Zawayda in central Gaza, while another strike killed one person in the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp. Later the same day, an airstrike struck the rooftop of a building in Gaza City, killing a paramedic and his son, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the specific incidents involving the four deaths. In previous statements regarding operations in Gaza, the military has said it targets militants and acts to prevent attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.
The latest fatalities occurred as regional mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, prepared for additional talks aimed at sustaining a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan that has remained in place since October 2025 but has not fully halted violence. Sources involved in the mediation effort said discussions were expected to focus on unresolved issues, including Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop deployments and longer-term security arrangements.
A spokesperson for Gaza health authorities said the deaths reflected continued insecurity across the enclave despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. Palestinian officials have repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire through airstrikes and military operations. Israel, in turn, has said its actions are directed at armed groups it says continue to pose security threats.
The conflict in Gaza has continued at varying levels despite the truce agreement. Gaza health officials say hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, although the figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israeli authorities have reported casualties among their forces during the same period.
Humanitarian organizations have continued to express concern about the safety of civilians and medical personnel operating in the territory. Medical workers in Gaza have faced difficult conditions amid repeated military operations and widespread damage to infrastructure, according to aid agencies. Details surrounding the circumstances of the paramedic's death remain limited.
As of June 18, mediators were continuing diplomatic contacts with both sides in an effort to prevent further escalation. No new agreement had been announced, and Israeli military operations and sporadic strikes in Gaza were continuing, according to officials and local residents.
