Updated: On Friday, October 13, four Palestinians—including a child—were killed in the Gaza Strip: two by an Israeli drone strike, and two others, including a child, by explosive remnants of previous Israeli bombardment.
An Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians near the al-Qastal towers, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. Medical sources confirmed that the strike killed two civilians.
Separately, two Palestinians—including a child—were killed and another child injured when an unexploded Israeli munition detonated near them in the Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City.
As the ceasefire enters its 14th day, Gaza remains gripped by devastation, displacement, and the long-term consequences of what humanitarian agencies describe as one of the most destructive military campaigns in modern history.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army fired artillery shelled at areas east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza early Friday morning.
Israeli forces continue to look for the remains of Israeli captives believed to have died inside a tunnel targeted by the army during the war.
Civil Defense crews in Gaza have recovered more than 80 bodies from a mass grave, reburying them at Shaban Cemetery. They were killed in an Israeli massacre in November 2023, at the beginning of the “war” on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/kEEFvYhuRM
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) October 24, 2025
However, no body exchanges have occurred over the past two days, and no official statements have been made explaining the delay.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, preparations are underway to receive another batch of Israeli remains by the end of the week, following pressure from both Tel Aviv and Washington on mediators.
In stark contrast, dozens of Palestinian bodies returned by Israeli forces have been buried in Gaza without identification.
Unexploded ordnance has killed at least 53 Palestinians and injured hundreds – likely a vast undercount.
Experts call Gaza an “unmapped minefield” and say it could take 30 years to clean up all explosives left behind from Israel’s genocide. pic.twitter.com/rdsFHxetfM
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 24, 2025
Many show signs of torture, making recognition nearly impossible. The remains arrive from Israeli custody stripped of identity, and local authorities in Gaza—working with limited resources—struggle to identify them.
Efforts include summoning families of the missing to inspect the bodies for visible clues such as clothing, physical features, stature, or injuries.
These rudimentary methods reflect the dire conditions under which Gaza’s health and forensic teams operate, amid ongoing trauma and devastation.
On its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent appeal to open all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, citing a deepening humanitarian and medical emergency.
According to the statement, several health facilities in Gaza are either non-operational or inaccessible due to ongoing hostilities and restrictions.
Approximately 15,000 individuals—including 4,000 children—require immediate medical evacuation to receive life-saving treatment.
The organization emphasized that without safe and sustained access, the health system in Gaza cannot respond to the overwhelming needs of the population, especially amid continued displacement, trauma, and infrastructure collapse.
Furthermore, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated Friday that Hamas has adhered to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, while Israel continues to violate its terms.
He added that preparations are underway for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, stressing the urgent need for coordinated diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt its violations and facilitate recovery efforts.
With their homes destroyed and no shelters remaining, many forcibly displaced Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to make the grim decision to pitch their tents in graveyards. pic.twitter.com/iUOPMtLkM3
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 23, 2025
Regarding post-conflict arrangements, Erdoğan noted that the composition and mandate of any potential stabilization force in Gaza remain unclear, with discussions still ongoing among relevant parties.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, 2025, the Israeli army has killed 89 Palestinians and injured 317. Additionally, the bodies of 449 Palestinians have been recovered from the rubble of bombarded homes and buildings.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the officially documented and verified number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has now reached 68,280, with 170,375 others wounded.
