Two Palestinian boys have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza while collecting firewood, according to their families.
The boys, cousins Mohammad and Suleiman Al Zawaraa, were aged 14 and 13 respectively, hospital authorities said. They were killed on Saturday morning and their bodies were taken to Al Shifa hospital. Video footage showed a distraught father holding his son’s body in his arms.
The boys and their families lived in northern Gaza. Their uncle, Salman Al Zawaraa, said the boys were close friends who had gone out to collect firewood to help their families cook and keep warm amid harsh winter conditions.
“They were full of life and joy,” he said. “They wanted to help their parents, so they went out to collect firewood.”
The Israeli military confirmed to CNN that troops operating in northern Gaza identified several individuals who crossed the Yellow Line, planted an explosive device, and approached soldiers, posing an “immediate threat.” The military said the incident was the same one in which the boys were killed. However, a military source claimed the victims “were not children,” without providing evidence.
The boys’ uncle disputed the claim, saying they were far from the Yellow Line and near the entrance of Kamal Adwan hospital. “What the occupation army says is a lie; those are innocent children they killed in cold blood,” he said.
In parts of Gaza, the Yellow Line is not clearly marked, making it difficult for civilians to know where the boundary lies.
This is not the first time children searching for firewood have been killed in Gaza. In November, eight-year-old Fadi and ten-year-old Jumaa Abu Assi were killed in a drone strike while collecting firewood for their disabled father. The Israeli military acknowledged the strike and said the children had crossed the Yellow Line and approached troops, posing a threat.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, three people were killed by Israeli military action in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total since the ceasefire in October to 484. The ministry said the cumulative death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is 71,657. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.