GAZA CITY, June 4 – Residents of Gaza City picked through rubble-strewn streets on Thursday after an Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in the early hours, causing casualties and deepening the sense of insecurity among a population already worn down by months of displacement.

The pre-dawn attack, which occurred around 2 a.m., scattered debris across several neighbourhoods and drew emergency crews to the scene to tackle fires and treat the wounded. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as families fled their apartments and gathered near the site, where several sections of the multi-storey structure were left damaged.

Throughout the morning, relatives dug through the wreckage to salvage whatever belongings remained, while children looked on and civil defence teams worked to clear rubble. Residents said the strike destroyed homes and personal possessions, compounding the hardships already facing civilians in the territory.

The attack came despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the war, with international mediators pushing for a ceasefire. Residents questioned the gap between those talks and the steady rhythm of airstrikes hitting civilian areas. One resident, a mother of three, asked how peace negotiations could continue while bombs still fell on homes.

The strike underlined the persistent humanitarian toll of the conflict, as residential zones continue to bear the brunt of military operations and repeated displacement. Aid agencies warn that infrastructure damage and the cumulative trauma are pushing Gaza further into crisis, even as ceasefire diplomacy gains traction. For those in Gaza City, Thursday’s destruction was a stark reminder that talk of peace remains far removed from the daily realities on the ground.