US envoy Steve Witkoff's Gaza visit marked by surge in deadly attacks at aid points
The visit of US envoy Steve Witkoff to Gaza was marked by a surge in deadly attacks at aid distribution points, as heavy gunfire erupted near the American aid zone in Rafah, leaving hundreds dead or wounded. Eyewitnesses described a sharp escalation in violence with children being among those deliberately targeted. Residents called it the most intense violence in weeks, noting that previously sporadic gunfire intensified dramatically during the envoy’s presence. Many had ventured to the area for the first time in over a month, believing the high-level diplomatic visit would bring some measure of safety. Instead, they found themselves caught in what they described as indiscriminate and targeted attacks.
Shot in the head and chest: Investigating the killings of children in Gaza - BBC Africa
The BBC World Service has pieced together the stories of Layan al-Majdalawi, two, and Mira Tanboura, six, both killed in Gaza in separate incidents in November 2023, in areas where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was operating.
The BBC has compiled material on over 160 cases where children have been shot in Gaza, and found that in 95 cases the child was shot in the head or chest. In most of these cases the victim was under 12 years old. The cases we found run from the first weeks of the war up to July this year.
Israel does not allow foreign journalists to enter Gaza, and destruction and displacement make it difficult to gather material.
Warning: Contains distressing images of children with injuries, many fatal.
