Israeli strikes in Gaza kill two, including son of health ministry chief

Two men were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Saturday, according to the territory's health ministry and hospital officials.

One man died in a bombardment that targeted the al-Shuja'iya neighbourhood of Gaza City. The other was killed near the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north of the strip, the ministry and Shifa hospital said.

The second victim was identified by the ministry as the son of its director general, Dr. Moneir al Borsh. Footage from Gaza City showed Dr. al Borsh mourning over his son's body, which was wrapped in a blanket, as relatives wept and gathered for funeral prayers.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes.

Saturday's deaths come days after a building previously damaged in an Israeli strike collapsed without warning in Gaza City early on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people as they slept, among them 11 children. Rescuers were forced to search the rubble by hand.

The war began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, when militants entered southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Although a ceasefire reached in October has reduced the fighting, Israel has continued to carry out strikes. Local health officials say at least 1,375 people have been killed since the agreement took effect.

Gaza's Health Ministry puts the overall death toll from the nearly three-year war at more than 73,789 Palestinians. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, keeps detailed records that U.N. agencies and international organisations regard as generally reliable. It does not separate civilian and militant deaths, but says women and children account for roughly half of those killed.