Medical officials said at least 13 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Friday across the Gaza Strip, including Islam Al-Tanani, who was pregnant with twins, and her children Hamza and Naya in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.

The deaths added to mounting civilian casualties despite the truce that took effect on Oct. 10, with residents and aid workers warning that daily strikes continue to make the ceasefire feel largely symbolic for many Palestinians.Khalid Al-Tanani, the husband of the deceased woman, described a series of strikes that hit their home in quick succession.

“With the first shell, thank God we all survived and were calling out to each other. Then they fired the second, third, and fourth shells one after the other. Their voices fell silent,” he said.“I found my wife, Islam Al-Tanani, martyred, and my son Hamza, and Naya in her mother’s arms.”Hamza was four years old and Naya was 13.

Islam was expecting twins, family members said.Hamza’s 13-year-old twin brother survived, along with another child of the couple. Relatives said the family had recently begun preparing for the arrival of the newborns.

Mourners gathered at the funeral on Saturday at Al-Shifa Hospital, where grieving relatives wept over the bodies before burial.In southern Gaza, officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said eight more people, including four police officers, were killed when Israel struck a police vehicle.

Two other men were reported killed in Gaza City, bringing Friday’s total death toll to at least 13, according to local hospitals.Israel’s military said several militants had threatened troops operating in the area and that forces carried out an airstrike after warning civilians to leave.

Al-Tanani disputed that account, saying no warning had been issued before the strikes.The military separately said it had targeted two militants who posed a threat to Israeli troops in Gaza City but did not comment directly on the strike in Khan Younis that killed eight people.

Although large-scale fighting has eased since the ceasefire began, Israeli forces continue to fire near military-held zones and militants have launched attacks on troops, contributing to repeated violations of the truce.Israel says its strikes are responses to militant activity and security threats. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, according to Israeli officials.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 790 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began six months ago. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, says 72,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.The war was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, according to Israeli authorities.

The continued bloodshed has deepened concerns among international mediators that the ceasefire remains highly vulnerable, with civilians bearing the heaviest cost of repeated breakdowns in calm.

According to a report by the Safa news agency, the devastating air raid struck the Al-Najjar family home in Khan Yunis last week, igniting a blaze that claimed the lives of nine children and inflicted severe injuries on Dr. Al-Najjar’s husband. Adam, the only child to survive, is currently undergoing treatment at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza — the same hospital where his mother works.

In a statement released on Thursday, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its deep concern and ongoing coordination regarding the tragedy.

“Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is closely following the case of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, whose family was targeted in an Israeli attack in recent days,” the ministry said. “The Italian government is prepared to transfer Adam to Italy for treatment.”

Efforts are now underway to arrange Adam’s transfer, the statement added, noting that all actions would be undertaken in accordance with the wishes of Dr. Al-Najjar and her family. Rome’s outreach comes amid mounting international concern over the escalating civilian toll in Gaza.

Malta has also joined Italy in offering humanitarian support, expressing readiness to provide refuge to Dr. Al-Najjar and her family.

The airstrike that obliterated Dr. Al-Najjar’s home is part of a broader Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The pediatrician, known for her service at Nasser Hospital, was reportedly on duty when the charred remains of her children arrived at the facility. Witnesses say she collapsed in shock upon seeing them.

The attack has stirred emotional reactions across Europe and the Middle East, with several humanitarian organizations urging immediate international intervention to protect civilians in conflict zones.

Italy’s proposal marks a significant diplomatic stance, as Rome seeks to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of the ongoing conflict. Minister Tajani’s office emphasized that Adam’s care and safety are of “paramount importance,” and that Italy stands ready to act on humanitarian grounds.

With Gaza’s health infrastructure teetering on collapse, the potential evacuation of Adam to Italy could mark a rare success story amid a growing humanitarian catastrophe.

As the conflict grinds on, the story of little Adam — an orphaned survivor with the weight of unimaginable loss — is emerging as a powerful symbol of Gaza’s suffering and the urgent need for global action.