Israeli Strike Kills 16 Including Children Near Gaza Medical Facility Amid Stalled Truce Talks

An Israeli airstrike near a medical facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, killed at least 16 Palestinians, including several children, amid ongoing but stalled ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported that many victims were civilians seeking medical treatment, with severe injuries predominantly to the head and chest, while Israel claimed it targeted a militant involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and is reviewing reports of civilian casualties. The strike has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and human rights groups, highlighting a pattern of Israeli attacks on health facilities, detention of medical personnel, and restrictions on medical supplies that have severely strained Gaza's health system. Relatives at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital mourned those killed while seeking care, underscoring the civilian toll of the conflict. Despite international pressure, ceasefire talks remain deadlocked, with Israeli officials indicating that an agreement could take weeks and Palestinian negotiators describing the process as in crisis. Since the war's start, over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, with Israel citing Hamas's 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 hostages taken.