Tel Aviv/Gaza, July 12, 2025 — Israeli airstrikes pounded parts of the Gaza Strip late Friday and Saturday, killing at least 28 Palestinians, including four children, as hopes for a ceasefire appeared to stall despite U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Palestinian hospital officials reported that the strikes devastated central and southern Gaza, with 13 people, among them children and two women, killed in Deir al-Balah, according to staff at Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital. Another 15 deaths were confirmed in Khan Younis, said doctors at Nasser Hospital.
The Israeli military offered no immediate comment on civilian casualties from the latest bombings.
Separately, at least 24 Palestinians were reportedly shot dead while trying to reach a food distribution site near Rafah. Hospital officials and wounded witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd. However, the Israeli military claimed it had only fired warning shots at people it considered suspicious and was unaware of casualties from the incident. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation denied any incident occurred near its distribution centers.
The violence comes amid an Israeli offensive that has killed more than 57,800 Palestinians since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. More than half of the casualties are women and children. The ministry, which operates under Hamas, does not distinguish civilians from combatants in its figures, though UN agencies consider its numbers the most credible available.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is nearing a new ceasefire deal aimed at securing further hostage releases and reducing hostilities. Yet, after two days of meetings this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, negotiations appear deadlocked. Hamas is still holding about 50 hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
As strikes continue and diplomatic efforts falter, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is deepening, leaving civilians increasingly desperate for food, medical aid, and safety.
