Israeli fire kills journalists and children on one of Gaza’s deadliest days since the ceasefire, AP reports

A day of Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza, including children and journalists, marking one of the deadliest 24-hour periods since the ceasefire began in October. The deaths, documented by local officials and reported by the Associated Press, intensified international concern that the truce is eroding under the weight of recurring lethal incidents and disputed targeting claims. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

Among those killed were three Palestinian journalists who were filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck suspects operating a drone, a statement that is likely to be closely examined because of the location and the presence of media workers. The episode added to a broader debate about transparency and accountability during a ceasefire in which the parties often provide competing narratives about each incident. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

The violence also included the death of a 13-year-old boy who was shot while gathering firewood, and a separate strike that killed three brothers in Bureij camp, according to the report. Such incidents have become flashpoints because they involve civilians engaged in routine survival tasks at a time when many families remain displaced and basic resources remain scarce. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

AP reported that since the ceasefire began, more than 470 Palestinians have been killed, with dozens of deaths occurring near the dividing line. The continued death toll has fueled growing public anger inside Gaza and heightened doubts in Israel and abroad that the ceasefire framework has strong enough enforcement tools to prevent escalation. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

The report also noted the wider press-freedom implications of the killings, pointing to the cumulative number of Palestinian journalists killed since the war began in 2023. With Israel barring international journalists from entering Gaza, outside verification is limited, increasing the importance—and the risk—of local reporters documenting events on the ground. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

Meanwhile, the conflict’s spillover was also visible in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes hit what were described as suspected Hezbollah arms and smuggling sites, injuring 19 people including journalists. Lebanese officials condemned the attacks, and the developments underscored how easily the ceasefire environment in one theater can be destabilized by violence in another. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d40bf79679b73bc11e2d7d6743724290?utm_source=openai))

Diplomats working on the ceasefire have argued that progress into a second phase—hostage-related steps, clearer withdrawal arrangements and expanded crossings—could reduce the frequency of deadly incidents. But as long as lethal actions continue without mutually accepted investigations, each new death risks becoming a political trigger that narrows leaders’ room to compromise. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f?utm_source=openai))