Seven killed in Gaza strikes as UNICEF warns of water crisis and F1 star visits aid hubs

Seven people were killed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to local emergency services. The victims included a 13-year-old boy, whose father was also killed in a strike on the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, as reported by the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency.

In other parts of Gaza City, the agency stated that three people died in an Israeli strike on a metal workshop in the Sabra neighborhood. A sixth person was killed in a strike on a tent sheltering displaced residents. In the southern part of the Palestinian territory, a seventh person was killed by Israeli fire near Khan Yunis. Hospitals that received the bodies confirmed these reports.

When contacted for comment, the Israeli military said it had struck terror operatives in several areas without providing further details. Both Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, following two years of war that began with the Hamas-led onslaught on October 7, 2023. Hamas figures typically do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their casualty counts.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, stated that Israel had rejected the importation of equipment needed to repair a water basin in Gaza. The agency warned that the facility could overflow, endangering nearby residents through flooding and disease.

Local authorities have noted that Israel destroyed water infrastructure and vehicles used for pumping water. One damaged facility is the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin in Gaza City. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder explained that the basin is currently contaminated with sewage and at risk of overflowing after heavy rainfall.

Elder told reporters that the agency had worked with Israeli authorities and the Board of Peace for a year on a three million dollar plan to repair the basin. However, the Israeli military agency overseeing humanitarian affairs in Gaza, known as COGAT, rejected the project in recent days.

Elder expressed confusion over the decision, stating that toxic sewage could flow into the streets and tents of Gaza City. He warned this would force children and families from their makeshift homes and increase the threat of disease. He urged for the rehabilitation to be completed before it becomes another preventable cause of death for children in Gaza. COGAT did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Also on Tuesday, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton arrived at Egypt's Rafah to visit organizations sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamilton has frequently spoken out about humanitarian crises in the region and called for peace. Last month, he said he hoped to see freedom for Congo, Sudan, Syria, and Palestine.

Hamilton toured the Rafah border crossing and visited logistics warehouses operated by the Egyptian Red Crescent. At the crossing, he greeted aid workers and spoke with officials. Khaled Megawer, the governor of North Sinai, said the visit aimed to help Hamilton learn about Egypt's efforts to send aid to the strip.

The visit occurred after Hamilton made his 400th race start on Sunday at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. As the first Black driver to race in F1 and a two-time champion with McLaren, Hamilton is the second driver in history to start 400 races, following his former teammate Fernando Alonso, who achieved the milestone in 2024.