Deadly escalation in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill dozens, including children and journalists

WorldPolitics
22 Jan 2026 • 1:31 PM MYT
The Vibes
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ISRAELI forces killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, including two 13-year-old boys, three journalists, and a woman, hospitals reported, marking one of the deadliest days in the enclave since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect in October.

Three journalists were killed while filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza. Israel’s military stated that suspects had been operating a drone that posed a threat to its troops.

Among the victims were Abdul Raouf Shaat, a regular contributor to Agence France-Presse, though he was not on assignment at the time.

AFP described him as “much loved by the AFP team covering Gaza” and demanded a full investigation into his death.

One 13-year-old boy was killed by a drone strike on the eastern side of the Bureij refugee camp alongside his father and a 22-year-old man. It is not clear whether the trio had crossed into Israeli-controlled areas.

The other 13-year-old, Moatsem al-Sharafy, was shot by troops in Bani Suheila. His mother, Safaa al-Sharafy, recounted through tears: “He went out in the morning, hungry. He told me he’d go quickly and come back.”

An Israeli strike later hit a vehicle carrying the journalists as they documented a new displacement camp in the Netzarim area managed by an Egyptian government committee.

Mohammed Mansour, the committee’s spokesperson, said the strike occurred approximately five kilometres from Israeli-controlled territory, and video footage showed the charred vehicle by the roadside.

Nasser Hospital officials confirmed the death of a Palestinian woman in the southern city of Khan Younis and reported that three brothers were killed in a tank shelling at the Bureij camp.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October 10 ceasefire, including at least 77 near the line separating Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza.

The first phase of the ceasefire focused on returning hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces. All but one hostage have been returned.

The family of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, continues to appeal for the return of his remains. His mother, Talik Gvili, told the Associated Press:

“We need to continue to amplify Rani’s voice… we, the people of Israel, will not give up on anyone.” Hamas stated it has provided “all information” regarding Gvili’s body to ceasefire mediators and accused Israel of obstructing recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, Israel carried out multiple airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting sites it claimed were used by Hezbollah to store weapons and smuggling routes along the Syrian border.

Four border crossings in the Hermel region were hit, while strikes in three southern villages targeted weapons storage facilities. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 19 people wounded, including journalists.

Drone strikes on vehicles in Bazouriyeh and Zahrani killed two further individuals. President Joseph Aoun condemned the actions as “systematic aggression.”

These incidents highlight the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing volatility in both Gaza and southern Lebanon, with Israel maintaining near-daily military operations amid unresolved regional tensions. - January 22, 2026