Gaza, Day 726 Update: Medical sources confirmed late Wednesday that 85 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded—including children and women—in relentless Israeli airstrikes across the devastated, starved, and besieged Gaza Strip.
The northern area suffered the highest casualties, with 53 deaths reported. Central Gaza recorded 28 fatalities, while four were killed in the south.
Hospital records detail the distribution of victims: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital (Baptist) received 38 bodies; Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City documented 15; Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah received 19; Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat recorded 9; and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received 4.
|Day 726: Journalist Among Many Palestinians Killed In Gaza|
Earlier in the evening, nine civilians—including seven women—were killed when Israeli forces bombed a two-story home near Al-Qastal Towers in eastern Deir al-Balah. Several others were injured and transferred to Al-Aqsa Hospital.
In a separate strike, Israeli warplanes launched six consecutive raids targeting the Daghmash family’s residential block in the Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City.
By Wednesday, the toll escalated further, with at least 73 Palestinians killed in a single day—over 40 of them in Gaza City, and a total on 85 killed in 24 hours, Al-Jazeera said.
Among the dead was Munther al-Dahshan, a civil defense responder killed when Israeli forces struck al-Falah School in the Zeitoun district, where hundreds of displaced civilians had sought shelter.
Meanwhile, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters. The civilian-led convoy was carrying food, water filtration systems, and medical aid.
Six vessels—including the Alma, Sirius, and Spectra—were forcibly boarded, severing contact with several journalists and activists, including Al Jazeera correspondent Hayat Yamani.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those detained. Footage showed Israeli forces using water cannons and stun grenades during the seizure.
AJ+ contributor Luay Al Basha was forced to throw his phone into the water during an Instagram livestream after his boat was intercepted by the Israeli military. The flotilla was less than 70 nautical miles away from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/UPKJlAat2d
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 1, 2025
Organizers condemned the interception as a violation of international law and accused Israel of obstructing humanitarian relief.
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, aboard one of the ships, stated that the aid would not be handed over to Israeli authorities, citing the state’s role in the siege and mass civilian deaths.
The flotilla’s capture sparked protests across Europe. Italy witnessed widespread labor strikes, while demonstrations erupted in Greece and Belgium. The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the convoy as a political provocation and reaffirmed its blockade policy.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out systematic and sustained attacks on Gaza that amount to acts of genocide. The death toll has reached 66,148, with 168,716 wounded—most of them women and children. Starvation has claimed an additional 455 lives, including 151 children.
