Gaza City:An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Gaza City early Saturday, resulting in the deaths of two Christian women who served displaced families and a university lecturer along with her mother. The attack occurred on the ground floor of the Al-Asala 1 building in the western Rimal neighborhood, marking a new breach of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

According to Anadolu Agency, the four women were among five Palestinians killed in the strike. The victims have been identified as Maysa Abu Daoud, her daughter Mary Najjar, academic Yasmin al-Boubou, and her mother Halloum al-Boubou. Maysa and Mary were known for their dedication to assisting parishioners and displaced individuals at the Holy Family Church.

Ramzi Khoury, chairman of Palestine's Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, expressed that the loss of Maysa and Mary was a significant blow to their families and the Christian community. The Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, along with Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, also mourned their deaths.

Mary's 14-year-old son, Fouad al-Najjar, recounted the attack, stating it occurred around 130 am. He conveyed his sorrow and called for an end to the ongoing conflict, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has affected both Muslims and Christians.

Yasmin al-Boubou, a lecturer at the University of Palestine, was also killed in the strike. She had previously served as the head of the university's Multimedia Technology Department and was pursuing a doctorate in computer science and artificial intelligence. Her death, along with her mother's, was mourned by colleagues and human rights advocates.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that Yasmin's death adds to a growing list of academics and researchers killed during the war. The center had documented the deaths of nearly 194 intellectuals, academics, and researchers as of late September 2026.

As the conflict continues, Palestinian figures report that over 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 175,000 injured in Gaza since October 2023, alongside significant infrastructure damage.