From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Reports: Couple and daughter, 6, killed in Gaza strike; military official says Hamas operative targeted
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
Media outlets in Gaza affiliated with Hamas report that three people were killed overnight in an Israeli strike on a house in Deir al-Balah.
According to the reports, the three were a married couple — Omar Abu Qasem and Asma Abu Qasem — and their six-year-old daughter, Habiba.
Habiba’s sibling reportedly survived.
A military official tells The Times of Israel that the strike targeted a Hamas operative. There is no comment from the Israel Defense Forces.
???? صورة | الشهيد عمر سامي أبو قاسم (33 عامًا) وطفلته حبيبة، اللذين ارتقيا مع زوجته في قصف إسرائيلي استهدف شقة سكنية لعائلة أبو قاسم قرب دوار البركة بمدينة دير البلح. pic.twitter.com/8H3PntKAYx
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) July 15, 2026
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