At least 32 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military strikes across Gaza, with most casualties reported in northern areas, according to local medics. The fatalities occurred overnight and into this morning, as violence continues to escalate in the region.
Among the victims, at least seven were killed in an Israeli strike on a house in central Gaza City, the Gaza Civil Defense reported. The attack was confirmed by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, which also stated that three aid workers were killed in a separate Israeli airstrike in the Hamas-controlled territory. The victims were Palestinian employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a U.S.-based aid organization. However, the Israeli military claimed it targeted a “terrorist” and is investigating the allegation that one of the victims was a WCK worker.
The aid workers were reportedly traveling in a marked WCK vehicle when they were struck in Khan Yunis, a southern city in Gaza. Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed that the three men were driving a WCK jeep, which bore the organization’s logo. In response, the Israeli army said its strike targeted a “civilian unmarked vehicle,” arguing that the vehicle’s movement was not coordinated for aid purposes.
This tragic incident follows a similar attack in April when an Israeli airstrike killed seven WCK staff members, including an Australian, three Britons, a North American, a Palestinian, and a Pole. In that case, Israel claimed to have targeted a Hamas gunman but later acknowledged “grave mistakes” in the strike’s execution.
As the death toll rises, efforts to secure a ceasefire continue. A Hamas delegation is set to meet Egyptian officials in Cairo today to discuss potential ceasefire terms and a prisoner exchange, according to a source within the militant group. This follows a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt are also ongoing, focused on securing a broader ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
The ongoing conflict has led to significant loss of life, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting 44,363 deaths since Israel’s retaliatory military offensive began. The toll from the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel stands at 1,207 people, mostly civilians. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with essential services such as medical facilities severely impacted by the Israeli military’s operations.
In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an immediate ceasefire, accusing Israel of using “the weapon of starvation” in northern Gaza to force displacement. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue operations in northern Gaza, including areas like Beit Lahiya and Jabalia, to prevent Hamas from regrouping and launching further attacks.
