A Palestinian child was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike on Jabalia al‑Balad, in northern Gaza, as bombardment and ground operations continued across the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip.
Medical teams at the Shifa Medical Center confirmed the death of 12‑year‑old Yousef Rasem Asaliyya, who was struck by a missile fired from an Israeli drone while he was in a residential area of Jabalia al‑Balad.
Civil defense crews also recovered the bodies of three Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp the previous day, as rescue teams continued to struggle to reach bombed neighborhoods due to ongoing shelling and destroyed roads.
In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, medical sources at Nasser Hospital said two Palestinians were shot by Israeli soldiers in the center of the city. Israeli soldiers also fired many live rounds at areas in the eastern part of Khan Younis city.
In Rafah, in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, Abdullah Adel al‑Bardawil sustained moderate injuries after an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped an explosive device in the Hasaka area behind the Mu’awiya Mosque along the Rafah coastline.
Local sources reported an increase in quadcopter attacks targeting civilians in open areas and near shelters.
Israeli tanks advanced near Salahuddin Street in the so‑called “Netzarim corridor” in central Gaza, where the army has maintained a permanent military presence and expanded incursions toward surrounding neighborhoods.
With their tiny feet, they kick away despair and leap over the pain. This is Gaza-where dreams never fall, even when the walls do. pic.twitter.com/jp0amKagk0
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) February 17, 2026
Al‑Jazeera reported intensified shelling around the central corridor as Israeli forces attempt to isolate northern Gaza from the south.
Additional field reports noted renewed Israeli shelling near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Israeli naval fire along the Gaza coastline, and continued obstruction of civil defense teams attempting to reach bombed neighborhoods in Gaza City and Jabalia.
In related news, Palestinian Civil Defense teams have recovered the bodies of 20 members of the Abu Naser family in northern Gaza, nearly 490 days after Israeli missiles destroyed their home, while an estimated 50 others are still believed to be buried beneath the rubble.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with food, water, and medical supplies nearly exhausted in several areas, and with thousands of displaced families trapped in zones under constant fire.
In addition, eight recently released Palestinian detainees were transferred on Monday to al‑Aqsa Hospital in Deir al‑Balah, in central Gaza, after being handed over by the Israeli army to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
‼️“My husband and my four children were abducted.” A Palestinian woman speaks through tears about the disappearance of her husband, her children, and her nephews during the genocide in Gaza. She says, explaining that two of her sons were later released, one after being used as a… pic.twitter.com/1bLT2HkALh
— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) February 17, 2026
Medical teams said several of the detainees showed signs of severe malnutrition, dehydration, and physical abuse, consistent with testimonies documented in previous releases.
Medical sources said hospitals across Gaza received two slain Palestinians and eleven wounded in the past 24 hours, though the actual number of casualties is believed to be significantly higher, as many victims remain under the rubble or in areas inaccessible to ambulances and civil defense crews due to continued Israeli fire.
Since the declared “ceasefire” on October 11, 2025, the number of Palestinians killed due to constant Israeli violations has risen to 603, with 1,618 injured, and 726 bodies recovered from destroyed areas.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the overall death toll from Israel’s assault has climbed to 72,063 Palestinians killed and 171,726 injured since October 7, 2023. Health officials and UN agencies report that the majority of the victims are women and children.
