Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians in two attacks in Gaza on Saturday, Oct. 10, health officials said. The US-brokered ceasefire reached its first anniversary with little progress toward putting the agreement into effect.
Medics said one strike killed four people near Panda Mall in Gaza City; another killed one person in the Tuffah neighbourhood, further south in the city. The Israeli military said both strikes targeted militants but offered no further information.
Palestinian casualties and the ceasefire
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces had killed at least eight Palestinians in several areas of Gaza since dawn, including an eight-year-old Palestinian girl. The deaths were reported on the ceasefire’s first anniversary.
More than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed in ongoing Israeli attacks during the year since the truce, Middle East Eye reported. Gaza health officials separately said Israeli fire had killed at least 1,400 Palestinians since the ceasefire was agreed last October. Israel said militants in Gaza had killed four of its soldiers over the same period.
Israel has stepped up strikes against Hamas in recent weeks, saying the Palestinian militant group has been rearming and carrying out attacks in violation of the ceasefire. Hamas denies rebuilding its arsenal or planning attacks, and accuses Israel of undermining the US-brokered truce.
The agreement calls for Gaza’s eventual reconstruction. Little progress has followed. The deal includes terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.
Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the Gaza war. The attacks killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent bombardment and ground operations in Gaza have killed more than 74,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.
UAE aid effort
The UAE began airlifting food aid to Gaza on Friday under the newly launched Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge. The stated aim is to supply more than 10 million meals to Palestinians. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 launched flights carrying food parcels from Al Maktoum International Airport.
The initiative honours Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid, brother of Dubai’s ruler, who died on September 21 and was known for his generosity and philanthropy. Volunteers, community members and admirers of Sheikh Ahmed gathered at Dubai World Trade Centre to prepare aid packages for families and children in Gaza.
The aid bridge is set to move supplies by air and sea in seven consignments: six flights carrying 450 tonnes of food parcels and one vessel transporting 4,000 tonnes of supplies to meet basic nutrition needs.
Hammoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, said the bridge augmented the UAE’s humanitarian efforts. “The launch of flights under the Ahmed bin Rashid Humanitarian Bridge reflects the high level of efficiency and expertise of the Emirati teams involved in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3,” he said.
Relief deliveries
Al Afari said Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, launched in November 2023 under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed, had served as a lifeline for Palestinians throughout the conflict. He said its assistance had helped large segments of the population cope with difficult living conditions. The operation combines emergency relief, health care, logistical support, recovery and rehabilitation programmes.
Since November 2023, the UAE has provided more than $4 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, accounting for 46 per cent of global humanitarian aid since 2023. The assistance included 130,708 tonnes of relief, medical and food supplies, delivered by 796 aircraft, 25 ships and 14,483 lorries.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives recorded expenditure exceeding Dh2.3 billion in 2025, positively affecting approximately 165 million beneficiaries across 122 countries. Its humanitarian aid and relief programmes exceeded Dh625 million in expenditure and benefited more than 53 million people worldwide.