Israeli Airstrike Kills Civilians in Central Gaza, Including Child Amid Unverified Decapitation Claim DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah on April 6, 2025, killing at least four Palestinians, including a child identified by social media posts as Hamza Issa Abu Issa. Unverified claims circulating online allege the boy was decapitated during the attack, though these reports remain unconfirmed by independent sources. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the specific incident, which occurred amid a surge in civilian casualties across the besieged enclave.

Details of the Attack The strike in Deir al-Balah follows a pattern of intensified Israeli operations since the collapse of a ceasefire last month. Local sources reported the deaths of a father and son in a separate airstrike near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital on April 5, while Sunday’s broader assault across Gaza killed at least 36 people, including eight children in a single artillery strike on Gaza City’s Al-Nakheel Street. Though the exact structure hit in the April 6 Deir al-Balah incident was not specified, recent Israeli operations have frequently targeted residential homes and makeshift shelters, with survivors describing scenes of dismembered bodies and collapsed buildings.

Social Media Claims and Context A graphic Instagram post by the account @eye.on.palestine purportedly showed Hamza Issa Abu Issa’s severed head, though the authenticity of the image could not be independently verified. Such allegations evoke memories of previous high-profile incidents in the conflict, including the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. However, the lack of corroboration from hospitals or international observers—hampered by Israel’s blockade on aid and journalists’ access—leaves the claim unresolved.

Broader Humanitarian Crisis The attack occurred as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to the U.S. to discuss the war with former President Donald Trump. Israel’s renewed offensive has included a month-long blockade of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid, leaving Gaza’s 2.3 million residents in what the UN calls “desperate” conditions. Local health authorities report over 50,669 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, with thousands more feared trapped under rubble.

Eyewitness Accounts Jamal al-Mdhoun, a survivor of a separate strike in Khan Younis that killed eight women and children, described “missiles powerful enough to turn mountains to dust” targeting civilians. “They’re fabricating claims about militants,” he told Al Jazeera. “Their aim is to eliminate Muslims”. In Deir al-Balah, paramedics faced lethal risks during rescue efforts, with one ambulance crew describing Israeli soldiers threatening them at gunpoint during a March 31 incident.

International Response The attack adds pressure on global leaders as the International Court of Justice reviews allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza. Human rights experts have repeatedly accused Israel of “disproportionate violence against women and children”, while Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel, albeit with dwindling frequency.

Unanswered Questions As night fell Sunday, families in Deir al-Balah combed through debris for survivors. The silence from Israeli officials on Hamza’s case contrasts with their broader strategy of blaming Hamas for embedding militants in civilian areas. For now, the child’s name joins a growing list of casualties in a war where truth often becomes collateral damage.

This report synthesizes verified strikes, eyewitness testimony, and social media claims, reflecting the challenges of real-time documentation in a war zone.