Gaza casualties rise as Israeli airstrikes kill 8, including children, amid new international shelter plan

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed eight Palestinians, among them two children, and injured dozens more. The deaths occurred in Khan Younis, where a drone strike hit a refugee tent, and in Deir al‑Balah, where an attack on a civilian gathering on Al‑Birka Street resulted in three fatalities, including a child. Medical sources reported severe injuries for several of the wounded.

At the same time, a coalition led by the so‑called “Council of Peace” announced an international pilot project to establish humanitarian shelter centres in Gaza. The plan targets areas that are not under Hamas control, with the first site earmarked at Tel al‑Sultan near Rafah. International stabilization forces are set to deploy non‑lethal equipment and crowd‑control tools to manage the shelters, aiming to channel aid directly to civilians and reduce the influence of militant groups.

Both developments highlight the worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave, marked by a high number of cease‑fire violations, limited aid deliveries, and restricted civilian movement.