Ten Palestinians Killed in IDF Airstrike Near Nuseirat Camp Water Point

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On Sunday morning, an Israeli airstrike struck near a water distribution point in Nuseirat Camp, a refugee settlement in central Gaza, claiming the lives of at least ten Palestinians, including six children, according to Al-Awda hospital, which received the casualties. The attack occurred as civilians, many of them children, queued for water, hospital staff reported.

Footage and photographs from the scene, verified by independent sources, depict a harrowing aftermath: bloodied bodies, some lifeless, others injured, surrounded by scattered water containers. The images capture the chaos and grief of a community struck without warning. Among the victims was 12-year-old Siraj Khaled Ibrahim, who was waiting to collect water. “He had the most beautiful heart in the world,” said his relative, Hamza Ibrahim, in an interview with international media. “He would memorise the Quran and was a football fan.”

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) responded to queries about the strike, stating it targeted “an Islamic Jihad terrorist” in central Gaza. They attributed the civilian deaths to “a technical error with the munition,” which reportedly fell dozens of metres from its intended target. The IDF noted the incident is under review, though no further details were provided.

This strike is part of a broader wave of military operations in Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health claimed 139 Palestinians were killed and over 425 injured in IDF attacks over the past 24 hours, bringing the total Palestinian death toll since 7 October 2023 to over 38,000. These figures, reported by Hamas-affiliated sources, remain unverified by independent bodies.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on Thursday that at least 798 people have been killed near food aid sites since late May. In a post on X, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the violence, stating, “Inaction [and] silence are complicities. Under our watch, Gaza has become the graveyard of children and starving people. No way out. Their choice is between [two] deaths: starvation or being [shot] at.”

In a speech in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined conditions for a permanent ceasefire, demanding Hamas relinquish its weapons and military capabilities, and that Gaza be demilitarised. He warned that if Hamas does not meet these terms within 60 days, Israel would achieve its objectives “by using force, the force of our heroic army.” Hamas rejected the demands, accusing Netanyahu of obstructing a proposed deal for a permanent cessation of hostilities, full Israeli withdrawal, and unhindered humanitarian aid in exchange for the release of all captives in a single phase.

The conflict, which escalated on 7 October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw hundreds taken hostage, continues to exact a heavy toll. At least 20 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity. As the violence persists, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with civilians bearing the brunt of the ongoing strife.