Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill Eight, Including a Child, as Iran Seeks Diplomacy With US

Iran’s top diplomat said he hopes for “rationality” from the United States as diplomatic efforts seek to prevent a return to full-scale war. In an interview shared on his Telegram channel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran expected the United States to choose “diplomacy over other paths,” and that Iran was ready for both defense and diplomacy depending on Washington’s approach. He said consultations with mediators were ongoing and that the final outcome depended on the responses the United States gave to “Iranian questions.”

On Saturday, Araghchi said Iranian negotiators were in Qatar to discuss a proposal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States met several conditions. He clarified that no direct talks with the United States were taking place.

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip killed eight people, including a child, according to the Associated Press. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported five deaths from an attack in that southern city, and Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported that an attack there killed three people, including the child, and seriously wounded a woman. The Israeli military said it had struck several militants in Khan Younis and a Hamas militant in northern Gaza. Photographs published with the report showed Mohammed Oweis carrying the body of his 4-year-old son, Yazan, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City. Mourning a child in plain view calls for care for the bereaved (Psalm 34:18).

The report said a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 had largely halted major fighting, but Israeli attacks had continued almost daily. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 1,570 Palestinians had been killed since the truce began, bringing the total war death toll to more than 74,500. The ministry is part of the government led by Hamas and does not distinguish between civilians and militants. Israel maintains that its attacks target militants and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

The Houthi rebels of Yemen, who are backed by Iran, reported two airstrikes against the College of Medicine of the University of Hodeidah, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah television channel. The rebels blamed Saudi Arabia. There was no information on casualties so far. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said only that it had carried out a “precision operation.” The report noted that the port city of Hodeidah had been repeatedly attacked since fighting intensified months earlier between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces.

Qatari liquefied natural gas shipping company Nakilat reported on Sunday that one of its vessels was struck by “unidentified objects” while in the Persian Gulf. Nakilat, officially known as Qatar Gas Transport Co., said the vessel, the Al Mayeda, was damaged on Friday night, but no crew members were injured, there was no environmental impact, and the ship remained operational. The statement did not say who fired the objects. The report noted that Iran had previously claimed responsibility for attacks on ships and had warned that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission could be destroyed.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and reported that authorities were investigating. It stressed that such attacks also risk harming the environment and marine life.

The United Nations called for an investigation after an employee of its human rights office became the second UN worker to die in the custody of the Houthi rebels. Mohammad el Shami had been held since June 2024, and the Houthis never provided information on his condition or proof of life despite repeated requests, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)