Children Killed As Gaza Ceasefire Talks Crumble

Several children were among the victims of an Israeli airstrike on a water distribution point in central Gaza on Sunday, health officials reported—marking yet another grim milestone in the ongoing conflict as ceasefire negotiations in Doha collapse.

The deadly strike, which killed six children and four others, occurred as civilians gathered to collect water. Footage from the scene showed chaos, with wounded children lying amid scattered buckets and containers. Al-Awda Hospital confirmed the casualties, while the Israeli military admitted the airstrike had missed its intended target—a member of the Islamic Jihad group—and said the incident is under investigation.

Meanwhile, the violence in Gaza has surged. The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that 139 bodies were recovered over the past 24 hours—the highest daily toll since July 2—bringing the death count since October 7, 2023, to 58,026. Many victims remain buried under rubble.

In another deadly strike on Sunday, an Israeli air raid targeted a busy junction in central Gaza, killing at least 12 and injuring more than 40. Among the dead was Dr. Ahmad Qandeel, a highly respected physician, according to the Health Ministry.

Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA, described the humanitarian crisis as “worse than ever,” telling CNN that Palestinians are facing “impossible choices” between starvation and risking death for aid.

Just a day earlier, on Saturday, 27 more people were killed near Rafah as Israeli troops allegedly opened fire on civilians seeking humanitarian aid. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the distribution site, denied any such incident took place near its facilities. The Israeli military also denied responsibility but stated it was reviewing the claims.

However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported its field hospital treated 132 people with weapons-related injuries from the Rafah incident. Thirty-one people died—25 on arrival and six later—making it the deadliest day for the hospital since it began operating in May.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates nearly 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid between late May and July 7, when GHF began operations.

Elsewhere, 13 people died in Israeli airstrikes on the Al-Shati refugee camp near Gaza City on Saturday. Video verified by CNN showed at least one child among the casualties, with dozens more injured.

In response to the spiraling violence, the Israel Defense Forces claimed Sunday to have destroyed weapons caches and tunnel networks used by Hamas. It reported over 150 strikes across the Gaza Strip, including attacks on “booby-trapped buildings, weapons depots, and sniper positions.”

Ceasefire Talks in Crisis

While the death toll rises, efforts to secure a ceasefire in Doha have faltered. After initial optimism, both Israel and Hamas are now accusing each other of stalling progress.

A senior Hamas official told CNN on Saturday that negotiations had “stalled” due to Israel introducing new demands, including revised military redeployment maps. The proposed ceasefire plan would have seen Israeli forces withdraw from northern Gaza on the first day and southern Gaza by the seventh day, but disagreements over the implementation details have become the main sticking point.

In a video message Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had accepted the latest proposal—dubbed the “Witkoff Deal” after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—but said Hamas rejected it.

“Hamas wants to stay in Gaza to rearm and strike us again and again,” Netanyahu said. “We must secure the release of the hostages and eliminate Hamas. I will not compromise on these goals.”

His comments drew criticism from the Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which accused him of misleading the public and sabotaging a possible agreement for political gain.

“Anyone who obstructs such a deal is acting against the will of the Israeli people,” the group stated. “History will remember this.”

A recent poll by Israel’s Channel 12 showed that 74% of Israelis favor ending the war in exchange for the return of all hostages—living and dead—through a single agreement, while only 8% support the government’s preferred phased approach.

As violence escalates and diplomacy falters, civilians in Gaza continue to pay the highest price, with children caught in the crossfire and the promise of peace growing more elusive by the day.