At least 15 Palestinians—eight of them children—were killed in an Israeli airstrike near a medical clinic in central Gaza, according to the BBC. The victims had reportedly been queuing for nutritional supplements when the strike hit, this on July 10.
Footage from al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah showed bodies of children and wounded civilians on the floor, as medics worked urgently to treat the injured. The US-based aid group Project Hope, which runs the clinic, condemned the incident as a violation of international law.
The Israeli military stated it had targeted a “Hamas terrorist” and expressed regret for civilian casualties. The strike was one of many reported on a day in which 66 people were said to have been killed as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas continued.
This tragic event underscores the legal and ethical complexity of wartime conduct. Under international law, civilian deaths may be deemed lawful in some circumstances—even though directly targeting civilians remains a war crime.
Curious to understand how this is possible? Click through the following gallery to learn more about when the killing of civilians is considered legal during conflict.