At least 15 individuals, 10 of whom were children, were killed in the center of Gaza on Thursday morning when an Israeli attack struck civilians waiting outside a medical point in Deir al-Balah, reported medical officials. The Project Hope facility was dispensing nutritional supplements and providing medical treatment when the attack took place. Clinic operations have now been suspended.
Peaceful families were brutally attacked as they queued outside waiting for the doors to open. This is a clear breach of international humanitarian law," replied Rabih Torbay, CEO of Project Hope.
The Israeli military said it had struck at a Hamas militant involved in the 7 October 2023 attack, but offered regret for civilian deaths, saying the incident is being investigated.
Witnesses reported horrific scenes. "What was the children's fault?" demanded Mohammed Abu Ouda, 35, who was left unscathed by the bombing. "I witnessed a mother holding her dead child both died instantly.
The fatal accident is on the heels of increased hopes of a possible truce. US President Donald Trump stated a Gaza truce might be achieved "this week or next" after Hamas extended an invitation to free 10 hostages. Still, sources including Qatar cautioned that critical issues are not yet solved. Israel needs to be allowed to resume attacks after a ceasefire, but Hamas insists on assurances that the battles will not resume.
At the same time, Israeli shelling has continued throughout the Gaza Strip, killing a minimum of 67 individuals during the last 24 hours, Gaza's health ministry reported. Five different strikes alone in Gaza City resulted in 15 fatalities. Israeli tanks pushed southward near displaced persons' camps southwest of Khan Younis in the south, causing new displacement as residents escaped under fire and teargas.
Nasser Hospital, which is one of the few functioning medical centers in the region, said it had an influx of patients. An employee posted a video with shrapnel that had penetrated the hospital's intensive care unit after a nearby explosion.
In other areas, tensions heightened following the killing of five Israeli soldiers in the north of Gaza on Tuesday by explosive devices fired by Hamas, which is among the most fatal incidents for Israel in weeks.
Since the conflict erupted in October 2023, over 57,000 Palestinians have died, and humanitarian conditions have worsened. Aid access remains severely restricted, with over 500 Palestinians shot while attempting to reach food distribution sites, raising concerns over the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations.
