A pregnant Palestinian woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza as artillery shelling and strikes across the enclave left at least 10 people dead over a 48-hour period, according to medical workers, family members, and health authorities reporting on September 13, 2026.
The intensifying military operations across northern, central, and southern Gaza continue to claim civilian lives despite a fragile ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025. The Guardian reported that 27-year-old Iman Shalouf, who was nearly eight months pregnant, died on Saturday from head injuries sustained from Israeli gunfire while she sat inside her family’s tent in the al-Mawasi area south of Khan Younis.
Relatives gathered at Nasser hospital to hold funeral prayers before burying Shalouf and her unborn baby side by side. Her husband, Ismail abu Mashi, questioned the reality of the ongoing truce.
“Where is the ceasefire they keep talking about? There is no such thing. There is killing every day. People are dying here every day.”
Ismail abu Mashi, via The Guardian
Escalating Casualties Across Gaza Amid Ongoing Strikes
The Gaza Ministry of Health stated that 10 Palestinians were killed and 56 wounded in attacks over a 48-hour span, pushing the cumulative death toll higher. Al Jazeera noted that more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the United States-brokered truce began last October. Among the recent victims were four members of a single family—Momen Ahmed, his wife Haneen Saleh, and their daughters Lana, 12, and Bana, eight—who died when their Beit Lahiya home was struck.
Further violence struck Gaza City on Sunday when an air strike targeted a vehicle in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, killing at least two people and injuring several others. Health officials reported that the blast dismembered the deceased and appealed to the public for identification assistance, while the Israeli military stated it had targeted two Hamas fighters.
Humanitarian Strain and Collapsing Medical Infrastructure
As the conflict persists, basic services across the enclave are failing. The Ministry of Health reported that several hospital electricity generators have stopped working due to severe shortages of fuel, oil, and spare parts. Officials emphasized that the limited fuel allowed into Gaza covers only immediate emergency needs and falls well short of the 2,500 liters required monthly by medical facilities.
Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating as winter approaches. The United Nations humanitarian office warned that most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are preparing for the rainy season within overcrowded displacement sites, facing heightened risks of flooding and disease amid severe funding shortages and access restrictions. Additionally, a temporary halt to desalination in Israel on August 31 reduced available water supplies for approximately one million people relying on the Israeli grid.
Impact on Children and International Condemnation
International agencies have raised alarms regarding the heavy toll on children.
United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk condemned the violence, pointing to an unrelenting pattern of killings that reflects sweeping impunity. Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières reported that Israeli forces issued 18 evacuation orders between September 6 and 9 while striking a building less than 250 feet from an MSF clinic.
Political Stances and Upcoming Elections
Political developments continue to shape the trajectory of the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an increasingly competitive electoral battle ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for October, alongside an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
During a recent visit near Gaza’s Yellow Line, Netanyahu stated that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from occupied territory in Gaza, confirming that Israeli forces currently control 60 percent of the enclave. Meanwhile, during a press conference in Ireland, US President Donald Trump defended his administration’s diplomatic efforts, stating that his team had successfully stabilized the region and secured the return of hostages.
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