8 Dead in Gaza Israeli Attack, Says Civil Defense Agency

KATHMANDU. At least 8 people have died in the Israeli attack in Gaza, AFP reported, citing a spokesman for the Palestinian territory's civil defense agency.

Spokesman Mahmoud Basal said seven people died in Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings in Gaza and one person died in an attack on the Al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City.

He also said 15 people were injured in an attack on Al-Sifa Hospital in Gaza City. Although a ceasefire has been in effect since October, continuous Israeli attacks have been increasing violent activities in the Gaza Strip, and many are under Israeli military control on charges of violating ceasefire terms.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said Israel has taken at least 936 lives since the ceasefire began. Recently, both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.

The first phase of the ceasefire included the release of the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians taken prisoner by Israel.

The second phase of the ceasefire was expected to include the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, but this process has not gained effective momentum for months.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the army to take control of 70 percent of Gaza's territory. Hamas's armed wing's latest chief in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, was reportedly killed in Israeli attacks last week.