Israeli Troops Kill 9-Year-Old Boy and Man in Gaza

Israeli troops killed two Palestinians, including a 9-year-old boy, in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to health and local sources. The incidents occurred amid ongoing military operations near the border fence with Israel.

The child was fatally shot in the chest by a tank shell during a military advance involving heavy machinery near the "yellow line" in Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza. Witnesses reported sporadic gunfire from Israeli-controlled territory towards displaced persons' camps across the line, posing a growing danger to refugees. The Nasser Hospital confirmed the child's death in the Al Mawasi coastal area, a site where many displaced families are sheltering in tents.

In a separate incident, a 36-year-old man was killed and three others, including a child and a woman, were injured in a drone attack in the Khan Younis area, north of Rafah. The hospital also confirmed these casualties.

Official figures highlight the severe impact of the conflict on children. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 21,300 children have died in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since the offensive began in October 2023. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports an average of four deaths per day from Israeli fire since a ceasefire began nine months ago, with a total of 1,108 deaths attributed to Israel during this period.