Israeli fire kills 8-year-old girl in central Gaza

An 8-year-old girl has died in central Gaza after sustaining injuries from Israeli army gunfire, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported. The child, identified as Tala Abu Matar, was hit while in the Al Nur wal Huda refugee camp, an area situated close to Israeli troop positions along the Gaza border.

Local sources characterized the incident as "automatic fire," suggesting the use of weapons mounted on turrets at the border perimeter. Some Palestinian media have pointed to the potential use of artificial intelligence systems in such attacks. The Israeli army has previously denied using such weaponry when questioned by EFE.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that approximately 21,300 children have died in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since October 2023. The total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, exceeds 73,200, following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 abductions.