Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in October 2023 in response to a cross-border attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel's military campaign over the past 21 months has laid waste to vast swathes of the Palestinian enclave.

Israel and Hamas appeared no closer to a breakthrough in indirect talks meant to pause the war and free some Israeli hostages after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit last week.

Israel’s military said a “technical error” had caused munition to land dozens of meters from its target. The victims were gathered near a water distribution point, health workers said.