Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip on Monday, north of the city of Rafah, which is still under Israeli control, according to local health officials. This incident adds strain to the delicate ceasefire supported by the United States.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military stated that they had targeted “terrorists” who had crossed the yellow line, marking the areas still occupied by the army. The military claimed the individuals were advancing towards troops in southern Gaza, posing an immediate threat, before being engaged. However, no evidence was provided to support this claim.
Medical personnel confirmed that one of the deceased was a woman, while the identities of the other two victims are currently unknown.
This event comes after a series of Israeli strikes in the region, leading to mutual accusations between Hamas and Israel regarding violations of the fragile ceasefire that ended two years of conflict.
Local residents reported ongoing house demolitions by Israeli forces in eastern areas of Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, where Israeli operations continue.
The ceasefire, effective since October 10, has reduced hostilities significantly, enabling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their war-torn homes in Gaza. Israeli troops have withdrawn from urban positions, and increased aid has been allowed into the region.
Hamas released all 20 living captives held in Gaza in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel. The group also committed to returning the remains of captives, a process that remains incomplete and challenging, with Israel accusing Hamas of delaying it.
Despite the ceasefire, violence persists. Palestinian health authorities reported that Israeli forces have killed 239 individuals in Gaza since the truce, with nearly half of the casualties occurring in a single day when Israel responded to an attack on its soldiers.
Israel confirmed the deaths of three soldiers and targeted numerous combatants in response to the ongoing violence.
On Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry received 45 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel and held in Israeli custody. This handover brings the total number of returned bodies to 270, with only 78 bodies identified so far, posing challenges due to signs of abuse and lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza.
Israel recently received the remains of three hostages from Gaza, with Hamas having returned 20 of the 28 bodies of captives previously buried in the region.