The Israeli military has released drone footage from central Gaza that it says shows a militant directing a child to carry weapons into a civilian home, allegedly to deter Israeli forces from striking the transfer. According to the IDF, which posted the video on Sunday, troops operating near the central refugee camps spotted the pair walking along streets with elongated objects and identified the child on site. The military says that once it recognized a minor was present, it refrained from carrying out any strike against the man. The IDF has described the incident as an example of the "systematic exploitation of children" by armed groups in violation of international law.

The overhead video shows the two figures moving through built-up streets before entering a residence, a scene the military presents as evidence of militants embedding weapons logistics inside densely populated civilian areas, a long-standing Israeli accusation. The IDF did not say when the footage was recorded, and the claims have not been independently verified, with some online users disputing similar IDF clips by arguing that children in previous videos were carrying toy items or debris. Hamas-run authorities and rights groups have, for their part, repeatedly accused Israeli forces of harming civilians, including children, throughout the war. The release comes as IDF Southern Command troops remain deployed along the so-called Yellow Line under the current arrangement in Gaza and say they will keep acting against any immediate threat.