Israeli forces killed at least 11 Palestinians, including two children and three journalists, in Gaza on Wednesday, representing one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire took effect in October. Hospitals reported that the fatalities included two 13-year-old boys, a woman, and three journalists, all of whom were struck in various incidents across the war-torn enclave.
The deaths occurred as the United States continues efforts to advance a second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Among the deceased journalists were three Palestinian media workers who were documenting the conditions at a displacement camp in central Gaza. Mohammed Mansour, a spokesperson for the committee managing the camp, confirmed that the journalists were attacked while filming about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Israeli-controlled territory.
One of the young boys, Moatsem al-Sharafy, was killed by an Israeli drone strike while he was reportedly gathering firewood near the Bureij refugee camp. His mother, Safaa al-Sharafy, expressed her grief, stating, “He went out in the morning, hungry. He told me he’d go quickly and come back.” The other boy was shot in Bani Suheila, as confirmed by Nasser Hospital officials.
In a separate incident, a vehicle carrying the three journalists was targeted during an Israeli strike. Abdul Raouf Shaat, one of the journalists killed, was a contributor to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The agency expressed its sorrow, describing him as “much loved” by colleagues and demanding an investigation into his death. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that over 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023.
Casualty figures continue to rise since the ceasefire was established on October 10. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 470 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire since then, with at least 77 fatalities attributed to gunfire near the ceasefire line that divides Israeli-held areas from much of Gaza’s Palestinian population.
In other developments, Nasser Hospital also reported receiving the body of a Palestinian woman shot by Israeli troops in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis. Additionally, three brothers were killed in tank shelling in the Bureij camp, highlighting the ongoing violence despite the ceasefire.
The ceasefire agreement initially focused on the return of hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces. As of now, all but one hostage—24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili, killed during the conflict—has been returned to Israel. His family continues to call for the government and U.S. President Donald Trump to secure the return of his remains.
In a broader context, Israel’s military conducted strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting sites associated with the militant group Hezbollah. These actions follow a series of near-daily military operations since the previous ceasefire concluded the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes resulted in injuries to at least 19 individuals, including journalists, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes as “systematic aggression,” further escalating regional tensions.
As the situation in Gaza remains volatile, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, emphasizing the critical need for a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict.
