Israeli strikes in Gaza kill eight including child, hospitals say

Israeli strikes in Gaza have resulted in at least eight deaths, including a young child, according to local hospitals. A missile strike hit a group of civilians in Gaza City's Al-Rimal neighborhood, killing three people, including a four-year-old boy. In Khan Younis, a drone attack targeting police officers in the Al-Mawasi area killed five more, as they were performing their duties.

The Israeli military claims it targeted military operatives but has not provided evidence or additional details. Outside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, a crowd gathered to pray near two body bags and the child's body, which had been wrapped in a white towel. The child's father told AFP news agency that his son and grandson were killed while sitting in their tent, unaware of the ongoing conflict.

In Khan Younis, women gathered around body bags, expressing their despair over the civilian casualties. The Israeli military states it is targeting Hamas militants but often results in civilian casualties. Despite a ceasefire agreement in October 2023, Israeli air strikes have continued daily, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting 1,580 deaths since the conflict began.

Israel claims it is targeting Hamas, but the situation has claimed the lives of 74,594 people in Gaza, according to the territory's medical records. A peace plan brokered by the US administration has thus far failed to gain traction.