JERUSALEM — At least 10 people, including children, were killed Sunday morning near a water distribution point in the central Gaza Strip, according to health officials in the enclave, as Israel pressed on with its military campaign there despite U.S.-led efforts to broker a truce.

Dr. Marwan Abu Nasser, the director of Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, said that the victims’ bodies and more than a dozen wounded people were taken to the hospital after the strike took place roughly a half-mile away.

People have frequently gathered each morning at the water point, according to Rami Al-Shrafi, another doctor at Al-Awda Hospital, because many Palestinians in the area are displaced and lack access to running water or plumbing.

“It seems the shell landed there and struck them directly,” Shrafi said.

When asked about the strike in Nuseirat, the Israeli military said that a “technical error” had caused an Israeli munition — intended for an Islamic Jihad militant — to land dozens of meters from its target. The military said in a statement that it was aware that casualties were reported as a result, adding that “the incident is under review.”

Hours later, in northern Gaza, a separate strike on a crowded junction in Gaza City killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense, an emergency rescue group under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

Fadel Naim, a doctor at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, said that the medical center had received a number of casualties from that attack. He added that Ahmad Qandil, also a doctor at the hospital, was among the dead.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports of the strike in Gaza City. In a separate statement Sunday, the military said that its air force had attacked more than 150 targets across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including weapons storage facilities and sniper posts.

The deadly strikes came as recent efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have yet to yield results.

Israeli officials and President Donald Trump had projected high optimism for an agreement before a visit last week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to Washington. But the talks appear to have stalled for the time being amid gaps between the two sides.

In the meantime, Israeli forces have continued to attack in Gaza, part of a 21-month war that began after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people and saw roughly 250 people taken to Gaza as hostages.

Since then, more than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. The ministry’s casualty lists do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but they include thousands of children.

Over the past month, more than 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to the Israeli military, including five who were killed in a roadside ambush last week.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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In the entryway of the Twins clubhouse last week, third base coach Tommy Watkins looked like he would’ve rather been invisible.

After finishing up a practice session with superstar center fielder Byron Buxton, a reporter approached Watkins to talk about the upcoming Home Run Derby.

He agreed to answer a few questions while trying his best not to draw any attention to himself.

“Do I have to?” Watkins said. “This is supposed to be about Buck.”

That statement is only partially true.

Though the spotlight will indeed be on Buxton when he steps to the plate during the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Truist Park in Atlanta, Watkins will also play a starring role as the person pitching to him.

“It means a lot,” Watkins said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Originally selected in the 38th round of the 1998 MLB Draft, Watkins has dedicated most of his life to the Twins.

He spent a decade in the minors leagues, developing into a fan favorite for the Fort Myers Miracle before finally reaching the major leagues. He eventually transitioned from player to coach, spending the better part of another decade in the minor leagues, before finally reaching the majors once again.

That Watkins will get to be a small part of All Star Weekend after such a long journey through the sport is a heartwarming wrinkle that everybody can get behind. Not that he wants to take any of the shine away from Buxton.

“I’m happy for him more than anything else,” Watkins said. “I’m excited to be a part of his moment.”

After accepting an invitation to compete in the Home Run Derby, which often serves as the most memorable part of All Star Weekend, Buxton said it was a no brainer that he was going to ask Watkins to share the stage with him.

It was an emotional exchange between Buxton and Watkins last week that left both of them tearing up.

“It’s pretty special,” Buxton said. “He’s somebody that’s been with me pretty much my whole career.”

They met more than a decade ago when Buxton was a prized prospect in the farm system and Watkins was the batting coach with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Though they weren’t together for long as Buxton tore up Single A and quickly rose up the ranks, they developed an unbreakable bond they maintained from afar until reconnecting in 2018 when Watkins was named first base coach for the Twins.

As much as Buxton and Watkins plan to enjoy the experience at the Home Run Derby, both made it clear they’re trying to win it. That explains why they had a few different practice sessions last week trying to figure out exactly where Buxton wants Watkins to put the ball.

“We’re working on it,” Watkins said. “We’re still trying to iron everything out.”

Is he any feeling pressure?

“A little bit,” Watkins said with a smile. “It should be a lot of fun.”

For the entire Twins organization.

“There are a lot of people around here very happy for Tommy and very excited to see his mug on TV,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “His smile is going to light up the screen at some point along the way. We’ll all have that image forever. What else could we ask for?”

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Cole Sands was cruising on Saturday. The Minnesota righty set down the first six Pittsburgh Pirates he faced after starting what would eventually be a 12-4 Twins win, and needed just 19 pitches to do so. Even though Sands was designated in an opener role, did the early success and low pitch count have Twins manager Rocco Baldelli considering giving Sands a third inning of work?

Not a chance.

“He hasn’t thrown, really, more than an inning and two-thirds or two innings is a rarity for him, so no, that wasn’t a consideration,” Baldelli said, looking back on a day that was dominated by Byron Buxton becoming the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field.

But after a game in which practically no one was focused on the pitching, Baldelli singled out the men on the mound for their success in giving the Twins some momentum headed into the All-Star break.

“We’ve played well in every way. I would say we’ve pitched really well, and I think everything is going to start there, always,” he said. “You’re not going to beat good teams, and you’re not going to play consistently good baseball unless your pitchers are going out there and giving you a great chance.”

Baldelli noted that the Twins have won two bullpen games recently, and specifically praised pitchers like Sands for being willing and happy to take on the opener role, knowing that he was going to have two innings, tops.

“He’s pitched good when we’ve asked him to do it,” Baldelli said. “And I think part of it is the mental side of when you’re told that you’re opening, you’re up for it. You’re not just thinking negatively, because not every pitcher wants to do it.”

OK being overshadowed

With a big crowd on hand for Saturday’s meeting with the Pirates, Twins infielder Kody Clemens had himself a day. Clemens, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia early in the season, went 2-for-4 with his sixth multi-hit effort of the season, and just his second multi-hit game at Target Field.

In the second inning, Clemens brought the big crowd to life by turning the first pitch he faced into a three-run homer – his 12th of the season – to give Minnesota an early 3-0 lead. And on a day where Buxton’s heroics have his batting helmet being shipped to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemens’ early offense became an afterthought.

And Clemens was fine with that.

“I’m always down to watch somebody hit for the cycle. That was obviously extremely impressive and fun to be a part of,” said Clemens, who entered Sunday’s game after putting up a .308 batting average with five homers in his previous eight Twins home games. “(Buxton is) just so impressive to watch. He’s so dangerous when he gets in the box and he has a plan. And when he gets his pitch, he’s gonna do damage.”

Smoke not a factor

Soccer pictures for Baldelli’s young daughter were cancelled on Saturday due to the persistent smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into Minnesota, which had some folks in the Twin Cities wearing facemasks to filter the unhealthy air.

The manager said it was maybe because they’re so focused on what’s happening on the field, but he and the players did not take note of the haze until they were done with work on Saturday.

“Mostly when I got out of the stadium is when I felt it, more than in the stadium,” he said, noting that none of the players or trainers expressed any concern or performance issues from the smoke.

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Minnesota United are negotiating the moves of two players to St. Louis City, the Pioneer Press confirmed Sunday.

GiveMeSport said winger/wingback Sang Bin Jeong is expected to leave on a permanent move to St. Louis, in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash, while defender Devin Padelford will head out to the Western Conference foe on a loan.

A source emphasized to the Pioneer Press emphasized that the deals were not final.

Neither player were on the 20-man team for MNUFC’s 4-1 win over San Jose at Allianz Field on Saturday and this move appears to be groundwork transactions heading into the summer transfer window, which opens July 24.

Jeong, a 23-year-old South Korean who recently acquired his U.S. Green Card, has struggled in front of goal this season. He hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet in 319 MLS minutes this year; he started but was mostly ineffectual in 45 minutes during the Loons’ 3-1 win over Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Jeong was linked in a move to Malmo, but reports had the Swedish club declining United’s $2 million transfer fee. The fast winger also drew interest from at least one MLS club in the Eastern Conference earlier this year.

In his first season after a transfer from Grasshopper in Switzerland in 2023, Jeong had two goal contributions (one goal, one assist) in 962 minutes for Minnesota. He more productive in 2024 with six goals and one assist in 2,171 minutes last season.

Jeong has bounced between wingback and his preferred position of forward during his last two years in Minnesota and that factored into his inconsistency.

Padelford, a homegrown player from Maplewood, has struggled to crack the first team this year.

The 22-year-old received 1,589 minutes a year ago, but in a switch from left wingback to center back, he has found himself buried on the depth chart in 2025 and has played only 105 minutes across four matches this season.