At least eight Palestinians, predominantly children, have died following an Israeli missile strike in central Gaza on March 3, 2024. The strike occurred as the children were collecting water from a distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp. According to emergency physician Ahmed Abu Saifan at Al-Awda Hospital, six children lost their lives and 17 others sustained injuries in the incident.
The Israeli military stated that the missile was intended to target an Islamic Jihad militant but malfunctioned, landing “dozens of metres from the target.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) expressed regret over the harm caused to civilians and noted that the matter is under review.
Water shortages in Gaza have escalated significantly in recent weeks, attributed to fuel shortages affecting desalination and sanitation facilities. This has forced residents to rely on collection points to fill their plastic containers.
Just hours after the Nuseirat strike, another Israeli attack on a market in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of 12 more individuals, including prominent hospital consultant Ahmad Qandil, according to Palestinian media. The Israeli military has yet to comment on this particular incident.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 58,000 individuals have been killed since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. This includes a recent increase of 139 fatalities within a 24-hour period. The Ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it indicates that more than half of the deceased are women and children.
Negotiations for a ceasefire are currently underway in Qatar. Steve Witkoff, a Middle East envoy under former President Donald Trump, expressed hope for progress, stating he planned to meet with senior Qatari officials during the FIFA Club World Cup final. Despite this, discussions aimed at reaching an agreement have reportedly stalled, with both sides at an impasse regarding the extent of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene ministers to discuss the ongoing negotiations. The indirect talks include a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, but optimism has diminished as both parties accuse each other of obstinacy. In a video statement, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s core demands, which include the complete release of hostages held in Gaza, the destruction of Hamas, and ensuring that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel in the future.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Reports suggest that at least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages are believed to still be alive.
On the Israeli side, plans are underway to relocate hundreds of thousands of Gazans to the southern area of Rafah, a proposal that has drawn criticism for potentially amounting to forced displacement. An Israeli source familiar with the discussions indicated that this plan could be implemented during a ceasefire, should one be reached. However, a Palestinian source revealed that Hamas has rejected proposed withdrawal maps, which they claim would leave about 40 percent of the territory under Israeli control, including all of Rafah.
As the situation continues to evolve, the humanitarian implications remain dire, with many civilians caught in the crossfire of ongoing military operations and rising tensions between conflicting parties.
