Gaza officials say children killed in strike as Israeli military admits ‘ error’
In a deeply tragic incident in central Gaza on Sunday, ten people—including six children—were killed while waiting to fill water containers. The strike hit a crowd gathered around a water truck in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, according to local emergency officials.
What happened?
Eyewitnesses say a drone missile struck the area where families were queuing with empty jerry cans. The victims’ bodies were taken to al-Awda Hospital, where doctors also treated 16 injured people, including seven more children.
Israeli military response
The Israeli military admitted the strike was a “technical error.” They were targeting a member of Islamic Jihad, but the missile landed dozens of meters off-target. The military said the incident is under review and expressed regret for civilian harm.
Footage confirms tragedy
Verified video from the scene shows injured children lying among spilled water containers as people rushed to help. BBC analysts confirmed the location near a school and a kindergarten.
Wider escalation in Gaza
This strike comes amid an uptick in Israeli air attacks across Gaza. On the same day, 19 more Palestinians were killed in three other strikes on homes in Gaza City and central areas.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its Rafah field hospital had treated more mass casualties in the last six weeks than the entire previous year. On Saturday alone, 132 people were brought in with weapon-related injuries—31 of them died. Most victims had gunshot wounds and said they were trying to reach food distribution points.
Aid sites under fire
There have also been deadly incidents near aid centers. On Saturday, 24 people were reportedly killed when Israeli troops allegedly opened fire near an aid distribution point in southern Gaza. The Israeli army denies causing injuries but admits warning shots were fired.
The UN human rights office says at least 789 people have died near aid sites since May 27. Of those, 615 deaths occurred near US- and Israeli-backed aid zones, and 183 near UN convoys.
Israel’s stance
The Israeli military said it’s trying to reduce harm to civilians and limit contact between its forces and the local population. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has disputed the UN’s statistics, saying they are based on unreliable data.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Since the war began after Hamas’s October 7 attack—which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 hostages—the situation in Gaza has worsened dramatically. Over 57,800 people have died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Most homes are now damaged or destroyed, and essential systems like healthcare, water, and sanitation have collapsed.
Although 75,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza for the first time in 130 days, the UN says it’s nowhere near enough. Nine UN agencies warn that the fuel shortage is putting hospitals, bakeries, and water systems at immediate risk.
“Hospitals are going dark,” the UN said. “Newborns and ICU patients are at risk. Ambulances can’t move.”
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