Egypt, Türkiye, Qatar condemn Israeli attacks killing civilians in Gaza

CAIRO – 20 August 2026: Egypt, Türkiye and Qatar have jointly condemned the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have claimed the lives of civilians, including women and children.

In a joint statement issued in their capacity as mediators, the three countries stressed the imperative for Israel to fully comply with all its obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

They affirmed the need for Israel to refrain from actions that could further undermine the ceasefire and escalate tensions.

‘Critical Juncture’

“The mediating countries underline that the intensification of Israeli attacks undermines regional and international efforts at a critical juncture,” the statement read.

The mediators said the Israeli attacks came while intensive efforts were underway to implement the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, including a meeting between the Board of Peace and Israeli officials.

They also noted that constructive steps were being taken in the negotiation process, underscoring the need to protect these efforts from further escalation.

Renewed Israeli Strikes

The statement comes amid renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have killed dozens over the past days, including women and children.

On Wednesday, Israeli strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians and critically injured 15 others, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, according to medical sources, with most reportedly severely burned or in pieces.

In central Gaza, Palestinian sources said a young man, Sobhi Shahtout, was killed when an Israeli strike targeted his motorcycle in Nuseirat refugee camp. He was reportedly the fifth member of his family to be killed in the conflict.

International Pressure

The mediators called on the international community and the Board of Peace, under the leadership of US President Donald Trump and as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with the ceasefire.

They also called for effective international pressure to prevent further escalation, warning of the devastating consequences of continued Israeli aggression in the region.

Hind Rajab Killing

Separately, the Israeli military on Wednesday admitted its forces had fired on a vehicle carrying five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in January 2024.

It ordered a criminal investigation into the incident, which resulted in her death, as well as the March 2025 killing of 15 emergency and aid workers in Gaza.

The death of Hind Rajab sparked international outrage after an audio recording emerged of her final call to the Palestinian Red Crescent, in which she desperately sought help.

Her body was later found inside a vehicle riddled with bullet holes in Gaza City.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect in Gaza last October, Israeli forces have continued near daily attacks, killing hundreds of Palestinians and injuring thousands more since then.

Obstructing Peace Efforts

The strikes come despite the US president’s announcement last month of a breakthrough in efforts to end the war under a plan agreed by Israel and Hamas.

The proposal calls for an Israeli military withdrawal as Hamas disarms, alongside the deployment of an International Stabilization Force working with a new Palestinian police force to secure Gaza.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his rejection of Trump’s latest Gaza proposal in televised remarks to his right-wing government this month.