Israeli Airstrikes Kill Children in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Stall

At least eight Palestinians, including six children, were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a water collection point in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza. According to local officials, the victims were gathering water amid severe shortages when the missile struck. The Israeli military acknowledged the strike missed its intended target—an Islamic Jihad militant—due to a malfunction. “The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians,” it said, adding the incident is under review.

Gaza’s health ministry reported over 58,000 deaths since the war began in October 2023, with 139 fatalities in the past 24 hours. The ministry states that more than half of those killed are women and children. Later Sunday, 12 more people, including renowned hospital consultant Ahmad Qandil, were killed in a strike on a market in Gaza City. Israel has not commented on that attack.

Amid intensifying humanitarian concerns, water and fuel shortages have pushed Gazans to rely on public collection sites, now potential targets of war. Displacement continues, with nowhere deemed safe for over 2 million residents.

Ceasefire negotiations, led by the U.S. in Qatar, remain deadlocked. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed hope, but sources say Hamas rejected Israel’s proposed withdrawal maps that would leave 40% of Gaza under Israeli control. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated Israel's core demands: freeing all hostages, eliminating Hamas, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat.

Families of hostages are calling for a deal, urging the government to end the war. Meanwhile, Israel is considering relocating hundreds of thousands of Gazans to Rafah under a proposed “humanitarian city” plan, which critics warn may amount to forced displacement.

The conflict began October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in Israel.