Israeli forces caused the deaths of 11 Palestinians, including two children and three journalists, in different incidents in Gaza on Wednesday, according to local medics. This ongoing violence is jeopardizing a three-month ceasefire in the war-torn region.
Palestinian health officials reported that an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of three Palestinian journalists who were traveling in a car to film a displaced persons camp in central Gaza. Additionally, medics mentioned that three individuals, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli tank shelling in central Gaza. Two more, including a 13-year-old boy, lost their lives in separate Israeli shooting incidents in Khan Younis in the southern part of Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that a total of 11 Palestinians lost their lives due to various Israeli attacks across the region on that day. In response to the incident involving the journalists, the Israeli military stated that their troops identified individuals operating a drone linked to Hamas in central Gaza and took precise action to eliminate the threat posed by the drone.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the killings of the journalists, emphasizing that they were documenting the plight of civilians in displacement camps. Emad Abu Shawish, a freelance journalist present at the scene, expressed shock over the targeted attack on the journalists without warning. The vehicle they were in, marked with the logo of the Egyptian Committee, was left charred by the strike.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 200 journalists and media personnel have been killed in Gaza since the conflict started in October 2023. While the Israeli military claims to target only combatants and military sites, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reports a higher death toll of more than 260 individuals.
The ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. in October has not progressed beyond the initial phase, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the terms. The next steps in the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump remain uncertain, as the situation in Gaza continues to unfold amidst ongoing tensions.