Gaza strike kills children waiting for food, as Israel targets Hamas fighter — bodies line hospital floor as ceasefire hopes dim

Time of India

10-07-2025

At least 15 Palestinians including eight children and two women were killed in an Israeli airstrike near a medical point in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, hospital officials report. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed the victims had been waiting in line for nutritional supplements. Hospital footage shows medics treating injured individuals and bodies of children and adults lying on the ground.
Israeli military claims militant target, regrets civilian harm
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it struck a member of Hamas's elite Nukhba forces, who had participated in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The IDF acknowledged reports of civilian injuries, expressed regret for collateral impact, and confirmed the event is under review. 'The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals,' its statement said.
Families react as funeral rituals begin amid civilian toll
Relatives at the hospital morgue wrapped the deceased children in white shrouds and performed funeral prayers. One woman told the BBC that her pregnant niece, Manal, and her daughter, Fatima, were among the deceased, while Manal's son is currently in intensive care. 'She was queuing to get the children supplements when the incident happened, I don't know what happened after that,' she said. Another mourner questioned, 'For what sin were they killed?' and remarked on the high civilian toll: 'We are dying…If people aren't killed by the Israeli army, they die trying to get aid.'
These children were waiting for food supplements before they were killed in cold blood by an Israeli missile at a medical point on Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The death toll of the attack was 13 with the majority being children and women. Director General of the… pic.twitter.com/VNBWODXOF9
Ongoing ceasefire talks and wider casualties
The strike comes amid indirect ceasefire and hostage release negotiations in Doha involving Israeli and Hamas delegations, with the US, Qatar, and Egypt mediating. Neither side has reported a breakthrough. The UK mentioned that closing the gap could take one to two weeks. Israel is seeking a 60-day ceasefire, during which it would push for Hamas disarmament—or resume military operations if that fails. Hamas described the discussions as difficult and criticized Israeli 'intransigence,' though it expressed flexibility by agreeing to release ten hostages so far.
Broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza
On the same day, other strikes across Gaza reportedly claimed 26 additional lives. Since the October 7 attack in southern Israel, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Gaza has seen approximately 57,680 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The war has driven multiple displacements, destroyed an estimated 90% of homes, and caused collapses in public infrastructure healthcare, water, sanitation—leaving residents facing shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.