Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that Israeli forces killed at least 23 people, including three children, in multiple attacks across the war-torn territory on Saturday, June 28, 2025.
According to spokesman Mahmud Bassal, who spoke to AFP, “At least 23 dead and dozens of wounded were taken (to hospitals) after Israeli firing and raids” across Gaza.
The casualties included three children killed in an airstrike on a home in Jabalia, northern Gaza, as part of six drone and plane strikes that claimed 21 lives.
Additionally, two people were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for aid in the Netzarim zone, central Gaza. AFP footage from Gaza City showed relatives grieving over the bodies of children killed in Jabalia.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment. Due to Israel’s restrictions on media access and challenges in reaching certain areas, AFP noted it could not independently verify the reported tolls or details.
The Gaza Health Ministry, considered reliable by the United Nations, reports that Israel’s ongoing offensive has killed at least 56,412 people, mostly civilians, since October 2023, in response to Hamas’s attack that killed 1,219 people, primarily civilians.
Following a 12-day war with Iran ending in a ceasefire on June 24, 2025, Israel refocused its military efforts on Gaza, where Hamas still holds hostages.
Context and Humanitarian Crisis
The strikes come amid a dire humanitarian situation exacerbated by Israel’s control over aid distribution through the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which replaced UN-led efforts in late May 2025.
The GHF’s system, operating in Israeli-controlled zones, has been criticized for causing chaos and mass casualties, with over 400 Palestinians reportedly killed while seeking aid since its inception.
UN agencies, including UNICEF, have condemned the system, citing unclear communication about distribution site operations, leading to deadly incidents. A UN-backed assessment warns that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face famine-like conditions due to a near-total blockade on food and essentials from March to May 2025.
What You Should Know
- Gaza’s Civil Defence reported 23 deaths, including three children in Jabalia, from Israeli airstrikes and gunfire on June 28, 2025.
- Two people were killed while waiting for aid in the Netzarim zone, part of ongoing violence at GHF distribution sites.
- Israel’s military campaign, relaunched after a January 2025 ceasefire breakdown, has killed over 56,412 Palestinians, per Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- The GHF’s aid system has been linked to over 400 deaths since late May, criticized for prioritizing Israeli military objectives.
- Media restrictions and access challenges hinder independent verification of casualty figures and incident details.
