According to local health officials, Israeli forces killed at least 21 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, June 26, 2025, through a combination of gunfire and airstrikes.These events occurred as mediators from various nations attempted to revive ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

Reports from local health authorities indicate that an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals at a school in the Sheikh Radwan suburb of Gaza City, which was being used to house displaced families. Concurrently, another airstrike claimed the lives of nine people near a tent encampment located in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Medics reported that three additional people were killed by Israeli gunfire, and dozens more sustained injuries while awaiting the arrival of U.N. aid trucks along a primary route in central Gaza.This incident is the most recent in a series of events involving multiple fatalities at aid distribution sites.

As of Thursday, there was no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding these incidents.Israel has stated its objective is to eliminate Hamas militants, who initiated attacks on southern Israel from Gaza in 2023, and to secure the release of hostages still held by the group.

“Israel says it is seeking to eliminate militants from Hamas…and free hostages still held by the group.”

These recent deaths occurred as Arab mediators from egypt and Qatar,with support from the United States,engaged with the conflicting parties to facilitate new ceasefire discussions. Though,Hamas sources have indicated that no specific date has been set for the next round of talks.

israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading a coalition that includes far-right parties, insists that Hamas must release all hostages, relinquish its governance role, and disarm to bring the war to an end.

Conversely, Hamas has stated that it will release the hostages if Israel commits to a permanent ceasefire and withdraws its forces from Gaza. While Hamas has conceded that it would no longer govern Gaza, it has refused to engage in discussions about disarmament.

According to Israeli figures, Hamas-led militants were responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack prompted a large-scale military response from israel.

Local health authorities report that Israel’s retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of over 56,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction throughout the gaza Strip.

To date, the majority of hostages who have been released were freed through indirect negotiations involving Hamas and Israel.