In the early hours of Friday evening, two Palestinian civilians, Saeed Salama Salem Al-Ghawash, aged 43, and his younger relative Masoud Salama Salem Al-Ghawash, aged 35, were killed when a drone strike struck a group of non-combatants near the Al-Qastal Towers on the eastern edge of the city of Deir al‑Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. Medical personnel at the Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed their arrival and noted that Israeli artillery shelling simultaneously targeted other parts of the city that evening.

Local sources report that these deaths occurred despite the formal ceasefire that came into effect on 11 October. Since then, around 90 Palestinians have lost their lives and over 317 have been wounded, according to figures released by local health authorities. The fact that bombs and artillery continue to strike populated civilian areas sends a stark signal: the promised halt to hostilities remains fragile.

Residents of Deir al-Balah say they live under the constant shadow of further violence and displacement. With infrastructure shattered, shelters overloaded and humanitarian supplies scarce, the people here bear the disproportionate burden of war. These latest fatalities add to mounting evidence that the civilian population remains at grave risk even when ceasefire declarations are in place.