Israeli forces kill 16 Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, including children and families

CAIRO: Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinians in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, according to health officials. The fatalities include several children and entire families, marking one of the highest single-day death tolls in recent weeks.

Health authorities in Gaza reported that an Israeli air strike targeted a vehicle near the entrance to Zawayda town in the central Gaza Strip. The strike killed a senior police official and eight other officers, as confirmed by medics and the interior ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza administration. The Gaza health ministry stated that at least 14 other people, mostly bystanders, were wounded in the attack.

In a separate incident in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian health authorities said a family of four—a father, mother, and their two children—were killed while driving. The circumstances of the shooting were not detailed in the initial reports.

Additionally, in Gaza, a man, his pregnant wife, and their son were killed, according to health officials. The ongoing violence comes as Israel continues to launch attacks not only in Gaza and the West Bank but also in Lebanon and Iran.

The recent escalation has resulted in significant civilian casualties, with medics and local officials expressing concern over the rising number of deaths and injuries. The Gaza health ministry noted that most of the wounded in the Zawayda attack were bystanders, highlighting the risks faced by civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

These incidents underscore the intensifying violence in the region, with families and children among the victims. The situation remains tense as Israeli military operations continue in multiple locations.