Bombs rained down on children waiting for food

An airstrike near a medical point in the Gaza sector, in the city of Deir al-Balah, revealed yet another tragedy. According to information released by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, at least 15 Palestinians were killed in the strike, including eight children and two women. The tragedy occurred while people were queuing to receive nutritional supplements for children.

A merciless strike — the bodies of young children stained with blood…

Graphic video footage from the hospital shows numerous children and other victims lying on the ground while doctors do everything they can to rescue them. After the incident, relatives at the hospital morgue wrap the deceased in white shrouds in tears. Funeral prayers express heartbreak as well as calls for justice.

Among the deceased were a pregnant woman, Manal, and her daughter, Fatima. Her son, who was with them, is now fighting for his life in intensive care. Her niece, Intisar, told a BBC correspondent:

“She was standing in line for children’s supplements. I don’t know what happened. Everything changed in an instant…”

Another woman standing nearby cried out:

“What sin did they commit? Children, women, pregnant mothers — why are they being killed? The world is watching us in silence. If the Israeli army does not kill us first, we die trying to receive aid.”

Israel responds: “Targeted a Hamas terrorist”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they targeted a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba forces, involved in the 7 October 2023 attack, in the area. They expressed regret for “harm to uninvolved persons” and said the incident is under review.

But images and eyewitness accounts conflict with this claim: among those affected were no armed individuals—only children, mother-and-child families, and elderly people.

Peace talks amid bloodshed
The strike occurred against the backdrop of shifting, uncertain peace negotiations taking place in Doha, Qatar. Despite persistent tensions between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, hopes remain alive for a new ceasefire agreement.

US officials say a deal could be reached within two weeks. An Israeli official noted that if a 60-day ceasefire is agreed, Hamas would need to disarm — otherwise military action would resume.

Hamas, however, says talks are difficult due to Israel’s “intransigence.” They are ready to release ten hostages, but insist on a comprehensive agreement that halts all military action and stops the offensive against Gaza.

Warning signal: who are the true victims of this war?
In response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, Israel launched a military campaign that has proven catastrophic for Gaza’s residents. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 57,680 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, most of them women and children.

The majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times; over 90% of homes have been destroyed. Health, water, sanitation, and food systems have collapsed. Shortages of fuel, medicine, and shelter are deepening the crisis.

Conclusion: this is not peace, but fire
The deadly strike in Deir al-Balah has again shown the world the catastrophic reality in Gaza. Sometimes even a bottle of baby food becomes the boundary between life and death. Children are being killed in queues. Pregnant women live under a sky raining death. These events are not just tragedy for one nation—they are a dire test for all humanity.

The truth is, in Gaza children are not weapons—they are victims. They are not involved in any frontline, but they are always the first to pay. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!