Israeli Drone Strike, Naval Gunfire Leave More Victims as Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 72,000

Gaza Herald –  Israeli forces carried out multiple attacks, including a drone strike east of Deir al-Balah and naval gunfire along the coast west of Gaza City, leaving at least one Palestinian killed and several others injured.

Local sources identified the victim as Hani Abdul Karim Salem Abu Jreiban, 41, who was killed by an Israeli drone in Abu al-Ajeen area east of Deir al-Balah.

Earlier, Israeli naval vessels opened heavy machine-gun fire toward the beach of al-Shati’ refugee camp, wounding multiple Palestinians. Medics provided first aid on site and transported the injured to hospitals in Gaza City for treatment.

On the same day, civil defense teams recovered six bodies from beneath the rubble of homes destroyed in prior bombardments, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed.

Since the ceasefire announced on October 11, 2025, Israeli forces have killed 648 Palestinians in reported violations, including 198 children and 85 women, and injured 1,662 others. Rescue teams have retrieved 726 bodies from previously inaccessible areas.

The cumulative toll since the start of Israel’s two-year war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, has risen to 72,082 killed and 171,761 wounded. The majority of victims are women, children, and elderly civilians, while more than 8,000 remain missing.

Approximately 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, with the United Nations estimating reconstruction costs at $70 billion.