Israel Blames ‘Technical Malfunction’ After Killing Thirsty Children at Gaza Water Point
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Ten thirsty Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike that hit a water distribution point in central Gaza. Over 12 others were injured in the same attack.
The Israeli military claimed the deadly strike was caused by a “technical malfunction” while targeting a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health said Israel has now killed more than 58,000 Palestinians since the genocide began in October 2023. On Sunday alone, at least 139 people were killed, including the children at the water point.
According to Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, six children were among the dead, and at least seven more children were wounded. The victims were reportedly waiting to fetch water in the new camp area northwest of Nuseirat.
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed that it was targeting a resistance fighter, however “due to a technical fault in the ammunition, the projectile fell dozens of meters from the intended target.”
Despite the high number of civilian casualties, including children, Israel claimed it “regrets any harm” caused to civilians and claimed it is working to “minimize civilian harm.”
However, daily death tolls have risen sharply in recent weeks. Gaza health officials say the number of Palestinians killed per day now exceeds 100, a staggering toll in an area already facing mass starvation and total collapse of essential services.
The airstrike that killed thirsty children is part of a broader pattern. As water and food become increasingly scarce due to Israel’s ongoing blockade, families risk their lives just to access basic necessities.
International organizations have repeatedly warned that Gaza is becoming unlivable. Yet no meaningful action has been taken to stop the bloodshed.
US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a “Gaza Peace Council” and called for the resistance to disarm as Phase Two of the US-backed Gaza plan began, a move that comes amid ongoing Israeli violations on the ground and growing doubts over the plan’s viability.
Pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that the ADL was working with the FBI and actively monitoring people online. He listed out what online activity they were monitoring, as well as what he referred to as the "extremists" they were monitoring, including pro-Palestine and anti-genocide activists.
On October 10, the Israeli forces completed the first phase of withdrawal under the ceasefire deal to the “Yellow Line,” a non-physical demarcation line separating the Israeli occupation forces from certain areas of Gaza, while occupying roughly 53 percent of the Strip.