At least 18 Palestinians were killed in a drone strike launched by the Israeli Gaza airstrike Defense Forces (IDF) on a busy market in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on Thursday. Eyewitnesses and hospital officials described chaos after two missiles hit an area where Hamas police forces, dressed in civilian clothes, had been confronting vendors over alleged price gouging.
Chaos at the Deir al-Balah Market
Eyewitnesses told BBC News that the Hamas police unit was trying to control inflated market prices by threatening confiscation of looted goods. When some vendors drew weapons, Israeli drones opened fire. Video footage shows widespread panic and destruction as ambulances rushed to the scene Israeli Gaza airstrike.
The Hamas-run Ministry of Interior condemned the attack, calling it a war crime against a unit tasked with maintaining civil order. The exact number of civilian versus militant casualties remains unknown.
Ongoing Aid and Security Crisis
The strike came as hunger deepened across Gaza. Civilians continue to face near-daily gunfire at humanitarian aid points, many managed by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF has received criticism for operational opacity and alleged favoritism. Nevertheless, Washington just pledged another $30 million in funding.
Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the arrival of nine medical aid trucks carrying blood units, plasma, and surgical supplies, marking the first successful delivery since March 2.
More Civilian Deaths Reported
Hours before the strike, Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on civilians near the Wadi Gaza bridge in central Gaza, killing at least three people waiting for food. In another incident, five members of the Abu Arab family were killed in a tent targeted in Khan Younis’s Al-Mawasi district.
The IDF stated it is reviewing these incidents and claims to be targeting Hamas’s military infrastructure. However, human rights groups continue to express concern about the high toll on civilians.
Death Toll Mounts
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 56,259 people have been killed since the war began in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. Israel reports over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken during the initial attack.
Conclusion
The Gaza market strike underscores the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, where civilians find themselves caught between militant governance and relentless Israeli airstrikes. As ceasefire negotiations continue in Cairo and Doha, the world watches to see whether any diplomatic path forward can emerge to prevent further tragedy.