Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including two 13-year-old boys, three journalists, and a woman. This incident marks one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel began on October 10, 2023. Hospitals in the region reported the casualties, highlighting the ongoing violence in the war-torn enclave.
The Israeli military stated that it targeted individuals suspected of operating a drone that posed a threat to its troops. Among the deceased were two boys killed in separate incidents. One boy was reportedly struck by Israeli drones while accompanied by his father and a 22-year-old man on the eastern side of the Bureij refugee camp. Officials from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed that the bodies were received there, though it remains unclear if the group had crossed into Israeli-controlled territory.
In another incident, a 13-year-old boy was shot by Israeli troops in the eastern town of Bani Suheila. 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 boy’s death was captured in a video that circulated online, showing his father mourning.
Journalists Targeted in Strikes
Later on Wednesday, an Israeli strike targeted a vehicle carrying three Palestinian journalists who were documenting the work of a displacement camp in the Netzarim area. Mohammed Mansour, a spokesperson for the Egyptian government committee managing the camp, reported that the vehicle was known to the Israeli military. The strike occurred approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Israeli-controlled area.
One of the journalists killed, Abdul Raouf Shaat, was a regular contributor to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The agency expressed its sorrow over his death and called for a full investigation. “Abdul was much loved by the AFP team covering Gaza. They remember him as a kind-hearted colleague,” the agency stated. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers have died in Gaza since the onset of the conflict in 2023.
Nasser Hospital officials also reported receiving the body of a Palestinian woman shot by Israeli troops in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis. In another incident in the Bureij camp, three brothers were killed due to tank shelling, as confirmed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health ministry indicates that more than 470 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire.
Ceasefire and Continuing Tensions
The first phase of the ceasefire that paused two years of intense conflict focused on the return of hostages alongside the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Almost all hostages, except for one, have been returned to Israel. The family of Ran Gvili, a police officer killed during the initial attack that sparked the renewed conflict, continues to plead for clarity regarding his remains. Gvili’s mother, Talik, stated, “We need to continue to amplify Rani’s voice… we will not give up on anyone.”
On the same day, Israeli airstrikes targeted locations in southern Lebanon, which the military claimed were used by the militant group Hezbollah for weapon storage. The strikes resulted in injuries to 19 people, including journalists, in the southern village of Qennarit. Lebanese officials condemned these actions, with President Joseph Aoun describing them as “systematic aggression.”
The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with international journalists largely barred from entering the region. Local journalists and residents continue to provide crucial information about the ongoing violence, which has significantly impacted the civilian population.
