Israeli Drone Hits Vehicle Carrying Body for Burial in Gaza
An Israeli drone struck a vehicle transporting the body of a Palestinian man to burial in Gaza City, wounding several people. The incident is the latest in a series of strikes that Palestinian officials count as violations of the ceasefire nearing its first anniversary. The Israeli military had not issued a public statement on the strike as of Thursday evening.
The funeral procession strike occurred near the American port facility in Sheikh Ajleen, where bystanders scattered as smoke rose from the burning vehicle. Medical sources reported multiple casualties, several in critical condition. The deceased, Jaber Moqbel, had been killed hours earlier in a separate strike in Deir al-Balah, and his body was en route to burial when the vehicle was hit again.
The incident follows a pattern of recent strikes, including one in Al-Mawasi that killed two Palestinians and another near a Tuffah cafe that killed three. Gaza's Health Ministry counts 1,375 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began Oct. 11, 2025. The truce's second phase, involving Hamas disarmament and an International Stabilization Force, remains stalled at roughly 200 deployed troops, far below what the agreement envisioned.
Strikes on funeral processions could deepen Palestinian distrust of the ceasefire's protections, potentially undermining community willingness to cooperate with the truce's governance provisions. The stalled stabilization force and unresolved disarmament questions may prolong cycles of retaliatory violence, with civilians bearing the heaviest burden. International observers may face mounting pressure to address enforcement gaps as the agreement approaches its first anniversary.