At least six Palestinians, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed and more than a dozen wounded in Gaza on Sunday, local health officials said, after a sequence of Israeli strikes that included a drone attack on a blacksmith shop in Gaza City and gunfire in a displacement camp.
What happened
Officials at Shifa Hospital reported that a drone strike on a blacksmith shop in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood killed at least four people and that others wounded in the strike were brought to the facility. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s ambulance service said that strike alone wounded 14 people.
Separately, Health Ministry officials said 9-year-old Tala Abu Matar was killed by Israeli gunfire in a displacement camp in central Gaza. Another strike on a displacement tent in Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed one person, according to health officials at Nasser Hospital, where the body was taken.
Official statements and military account
The Israeli military acknowledged striking the area in Gaza City, saying it targeted what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” and later said it struck a Hamas weapon production site. In response to the strikes, Palestinians received evacuation orders from the military prior to subsequent intensified airstrikes targeting the same location.
"part of routine activities."
The military also said it had carried out a strike in the Khan Younis area and characterized that operation as routine, while asserting it was not aware of casualties in that specific incident.
Casualties and humanitarian context
Local health authorities tallied the fatalities and injuries. The strikes occurred amid an environment of displacement: many Gazans are sheltering in mosques, camps and temporary facilities following months of conflict. Israeli strikes have reportedly reduced in frequency since a ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, but they continue on an almost daily basis.
| Location | Reported deaths | Reported wounded |
|---|---|---|
| Sabra neighborhood, Gaza City (blacksmith shop) | At least 4 | 14 (reported by Palestinian Red Crescent) |
| Displacement camp, central Gaza | 1 (9-year-old girl) | Not specified |
| Khan Younis (displacement tent) | 1 | Not specified |
Why this matters
These incidents underscore continuing risks to civilians in densely populated and displaced communities in Gaza, where essential services and shelter options remain strained. The differing accounts between local health authorities and the Israeli military — particularly on civilian casualties — highlight ongoing challenges for independent verification in active conflict zones.
- Casualties reported: At least six killed, including a child, and more than a dozen wounded.
- Type of strikes: Drone strike on a blacksmith shop, airstrikes, and gunfire in displacement areas.
- Statements: Israeli military cited targeting of "terrorist infrastructure" and a weapon production site; it said some operations were routine and claimed unawareness of certain casualties.
Reporting on casualties and incidents in Gaza continues to rely on hospital tallies and statements from both local health authorities and military officials. Independent verification is often constrained by restricted access and the fluid security situation. News Block will continue to monitor official statements and hospital updates as they become available.
