On January 21, 2026, Israeli military forces killed five Palestinians, including two boys, in attacks across Gaza, as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate. The Israeli military claimed it had “eliminated” a Palestinian militant who posed a threat to its soldiers, while Palestinian health officials reported civilian casualties.
Local health authorities confirmed that three individuals, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli tank shelling east of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. In southern Gaza, two others, a 13-year-old boy and a woman, died in separate Israeli shooting incidents in eastern Khan Younis.
These fatalities come amid an ongoing dispute over the October ceasefire, which followed two years of conflict that severely impacted Gaza’s population. Despite the ceasefire, both sides have blamed each other for repeated violations, and discussions over future steps in the ceasefire process remain unresolved.
Residents have reported an increasing presence of Israeli troops in Gaza in recent weeks, which has led to further displacement of Palestinian families. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces partially withdrew from Gaza but still control approximately 53% of the territory.
Earlier, the Israeli military stated that its forces killed a “terrorist” who crossed into an area under their control and was considered an immediate threat to soldiers.
Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided Birzeit University, injuring at least three students with live ammunition. The Palestinian Ministry of Education condemned the operation, calling it a violation of international law. The raid, which occurred last Tuesday, caused panic on campus as students and staff fled classrooms, and many suffered from tear gas inhalation.
