Israeli Fire Kills Journalists and Children in Gaza on One of Deadliest Days Since Ceasefire

Post by : Saif Nasser

Israeli military fire killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, including two young boys, three journalists, and a woman, marking one of the deadliest days since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October. The deaths have raised serious questions about the safety of civilians and journalists, even as international efforts continue to push the ceasefire into its next phase.

Among those killed were three Palestinian journalists who were filming near a newly established displacement camp in central Gaza. According to officials managing the camp, the journalists were documenting humanitarian work led by an Egyptian government committee. Their vehicle was struck by an Israeli attack, leaving it burned and destroyed on the roadside. Israel’s military said it had identified “suspects” operating a drone that posed a threat to its forces, though the journalists’ colleagues strongly denied they were involved in any military activity.

One of the journalists killed, Abdul Raouf Shaat, was a regular contributor to international media. Fellow reporters described him as kind and dedicated, and media organizations have demanded a full and transparent investigation into his death. Human rights groups say more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war began in 2023, making Gaza one of the most dangerous places in the world for the press.

The violence also claimed the lives of two 13-year-old boys in separate incidents. In one case, a boy was killed by drone fire while with his father near the Bureij refugee camp. In another, a child was shot while gathering firewood to help his family cook. His mother said he had left home hungry and promised to return quickly, but never came back. These deaths have deeply shaken families already struggling to survive after months of war.

Hospitals across Gaza also reported other civilian casualties, including a woman shot in southern Khan Younis and three brothers killed in tank shelling at a refugee camp. Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health ministry says more than 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. Independent experts and United Nations agencies consider the ministry’s records largely reliable.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue near-daily military actions, including strikes near ceasefire lines that divide Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza. Many civilians say they feel unsafe even far from front lines, with no clear warning before attacks.

At the same time, tensions have spread beyond Gaza. Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon and near the Syria-Lebanon border, targeting what it said were weapons storage and smuggling routes used by Hezbollah. Lebanese officials condemned the attacks, saying they violated sovereignty and endangered civilians. Several people, including journalists, were injured in these strikes.

The first phase of the ceasefire focused on exchanging hostages and detainees and reducing fighting. While most hostages have been returned, families on both sides continue to suffer, with many still waiting for answers about missing loved ones.

As diplomats push for the next phase of the ceasefire, the deaths of journalists and children highlight how fragile the truce remains. For families in Gaza, the hope for peace feels distant, as daily life continues under fear, loss, and uncertainty.