At least 10 Palestinians, including six children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday morning as they gathered to collect water in al-Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza, according to local health officials.
The victims were reportedly hit while queuing with jerry cans at a water tanker. The injured — including seven children — were taken to al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, where doctors described scenes of chaos and carnage.
Israeli Military Confirms Strike Error
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it carried out a drone strike targeting a member of Islamic Jihad. However, a “technical error” caused the munition to fall dozens of meters from its intended target, hitting a civilian crowd instead.
“We regret any harm to uninvolved civilians,” the IDF said in a statement.
“An investigation is underway to determine the nature of the error.”
Despite the military’s admission, the humanitarian fallout continues to mount.
Video Confirms Civilian Zone Hit
Verified footage shows frantic efforts to rescue the injured, with children lying amidst spilled water containers. BBC Verify geolocated the strike to a residential street near Nuseirat Junior High School — about 80 meters from a kindergarten.
Though the exact projectile is unknown, satellite imagery from June revealed a stationary tanker truck at the site.
More Strikes Across Gaza
Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least 19 more Palestinians on Sunday in attacks on residential buildings in central Gaza and Gaza City, according to the Civil Defence Agency.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its Rafah field hospital treated 132 patients with weapon-related injuries on Saturday alone, 31 of whom died — mostly while trying to access food aid sites.
Since May 27, when new US- and Israeli-backed aid hubs opened, the ICRC has recorded 3,400 weapon-wounded patients and over 250 deaths at Rafah alone.
“The alarming frequency and scale of these mass casualty incidents underscore the horrific conditions civilians in Gaza are enduring,” the ICRC said.
IDF Denies Civilian Casualties Near Aid Sites
On Saturday, 24 more civilians were reported killed near another aid site in southern Gaza. Eyewitnesses said Israeli troops opened fire as crowds gathered for food.
The IDF, however, denied any civilian injuries from its forces and said only warning shots were fired to deter what they claimed were perceived threats.
UN: Hundreds Killed Near Aid Hubs
The UN Human Rights Office reported that 789 civilians have been killed near aid distribution areas — 615 of them near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)-backed sites operating inside Israeli military zones.
The GHF, which works with US private security contractors, denied direct responsibility and accused the UN of using statistics from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry without context.
Humanitarian Collapse Deepens
According to the United Nations, 90% of Gaza’s homes are damaged or destroyed. Basic infrastructure — including healthcare, water, sanitation, and food supplies — has collapsed.
On Friday, only 75,000 litres of fuel were allowed into Gaza — the first fuel delivery in over 130 days, and a fraction of daily needs. UN agencies warn fuel shortages are now “critical”, risking total collapse of hospitals, water systems, and bakeries.
“Hospitals are already going dark… ambulances can no longer move,” the UN said.
Background to the Conflict
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza.
Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports over 57,800 deaths. The territory remains under siege, with most of its 2.3 million residents displaced multiple times.
