DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children, by midday Wednesday, as reported by hospital officials. The strikes come in the wake of an alleged militant attack on Israeli soldiers, which left one soldier seriously wounded. Israel has vowed to persist with its military operations as it claims to retaliate against such incidents.
Among those killed were five children, including an infant just 10 days old and a 5-month-old baby. Additionally, seven women and a paramedic were among the deceased. These fatalities mark a continuation of violence despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025. Since that date, over 530 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli actions, according to Gaza's health ministry.
The increasing number of Palestinian casualties has severely impacted the U.S.-backed truce, leading many Palestinians to express disbelief that the conflict has truly ended. Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, vocalized this sentiment in a Facebook post, questioning the effectiveness of the ceasefire and the presence of mediators.
An anonymous Israeli military official informed The Associated Press that military operations would continue, citing ongoing attacks from militants as justification. Since the ceasefire commenced, four Israeli soldiers have reportedly lost their lives, further complicating the fragile situation.
The early hours of Wednesday saw Israeli troops fire upon a building in the Tuffah neighborhood of northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, mostly from one family. Victims included two parents, their ten-day-old daughter, her five-month-old cousin, and their grandmother. According to the Israeli military, this strike was a response to militants who had opened fire on Israeli troops, causing severe injury to one reservist soldier.
Following the Tuffah strike, additional Israeli fire was reported throughout the Gaza Strip. A strike on a family's tent in the southern city of Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including a 12-year-old boy. Moreover, tank shelling in the Gaza City neighborhood of Zaytoun left another three dead, including a husband and wife.
In another incident, a strike on a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis killed at least two more people and left five injured. Among the deceased was Hussein Hassan Hussein al-Semieri, a paramedic for the Palestinian Red Crescent, who was on duty during the attack.
Overall, it is reported that over 71,800 Palestinians have died since the onset of this most recent conflict, though the Gaza health ministry does not specify how many were combatants versus civilians. This ministry, linked to the Hamas-led government, keeps detailed and generally reliable casualty records acknowledged by United Nations agencies and independent experts.
