Three Palestinians were killed Friday when an Israeli drone targeted a group of farmers in al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medical and local sources.

The victims were identified as members of the Abdeen family. Medical sources said their bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital following the strike.

The attack came despite the ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025, with Palestinian civilians continuing to face Israeli airstrikes, gunfire and other attacks across the besieged Gaza Strip. Recent reports have documented further Palestinian casualties since the ceasefire began.

Palestinian farmers remain under threat

The killing of the three farmers underscores the dangers facing Palestinians attempting to return to agricultural work and cultivate what remains of Gaza’s farmland after extensive destruction during the war.

Farmers in Gaza continue to face severe restrictions, damaged agricultural infrastructure, shortages of water and supplies, and the constant threat of Israeli military fire. Recent reporting has found that much of Gaza’s agricultural land and infrastructure has been devastated, leaving farmers struggling to produce food for their communities.

The latest strike adds to the mounting Palestinian death toll from Israel’s military campaign, which Palestinian health authorities say has surpassed 73,000 since October 2023.

The continued attacks have raised renewed concerns over the durability of the ceasefire and the protection of Palestinian civilians, particularly those attempting to rebuild their lives and livelihoods amid the widespread destruction left by the war. (ILKHA)