Israeli forces in Gaza killed three Palestinians near the city of Rafah on Monday, as reported by local health authorities. The incident occurred in an area under Israeli control, adding strain to the delicate ceasefire supported by the United States.
The Israeli military stated that it targeted individuals identified as “terrorists” who breached the designated yellow line marking the territory still occupied by the army. The military claimed these individuals posed an immediate threat to troops in southern Gaza before being engaged. However, no evidence was provided to support this assertion.
Medical personnel confirmed that one of the casualties was a woman, while the identities of the other two victims remain unknown. This incident follows a series of Israeli airstrikes in the region, leading to mutual accusations of ceasefire violations between Hamas and Israel.
Residents reported ongoing demolitions of homes by Israeli forces in various parts of Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. Despite the ceasefire’s implementation on October 10, violence persists, with Palestinian health authorities revealing that Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of 239 individuals in Gaza since the truce began.
Hamas has released 20 living hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel. However, the process of returning the bodies of hostages remains incomplete and challenging, with Israel accusing Hamas of delays.
On another front, the Gaza Health Ministry received 45 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel, bringing the total returned bodies to 270. Of these, only 78 have been identified due to challenges in forensic identification caused by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza. The ministry resorts to posting photos of the remains online to aid in identification by families.
Israel has confirmed the deaths of three soldiers and targeted numerous fighters in response to the ongoing violence. The exchange of bodies and hostages between Gaza and Israel continues, with Hamas handing over 20 of the 28 bodies of hostages buried in Gaza.