At least 15 Palestinians, including eight children and two women, lost their lives following an Israeli airstrike near a health post in central Gaza, according to officials from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The deadly incident occurred in Deir al-Balah, where vulnerable families had gathered to receive nutritional supplements amidst the worsening humanitarian crisis. Witnesses report harrowing scenes at the hospital, with graphic footage showing lifeless bodies and severely wounded victims — many of them children.
The Israeli Defence Forces have said they are investigating the incident.
Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, an additional 26 fatalities were reported from multiple airstrikes on Thursday, further compounding the death toll from Israel’s ongoing military operations. These attacks come amid fragile negotiations in Doha, Qatar, where delegations from Israel and Hamas are seeking consensus on a possible ceasefire and hostage exchange.
Despite the presence of key mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, talks remain strained. On Wednesday, a senior Israeli government official hinted that discussions could last another week or two, noting that any temporary truce would be contingent on Hamas agreeing to disarm — a condition the group has firmly rejected.
In response, Hamas accused Israel of inflexibility but announced its willingness to release 10 hostages as a sign of goodwill. The group reiterated its demand for a comprehensive ceasefire that would bring an end to the bombardments.
Israel’s current offensive was launched in retaliation for Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which claimed approximately 1,200 Israeli lives and saw 251 hostages taken.
Since then, over 57,000 Palestinians have reportedly died in the conflict, per figures from Gaza’s health ministry. The territory has suffered extreme devastation — nearly all homes are damaged or destroyed, and basic services such as healthcare, sanitation, and access to food have collapsed.
Humanitarian organisations continue to call for urgent international intervention to prevent further loss of life and to restore dignity to Gaza’s war-weary population.
Source: BBC News
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