At least seven people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday, health officials in the Palestinian territory said, as violence continued despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
According to AFP, five people were killed and several others injured after an Israeli strike targeted a group of people in eastern Al-Maghazi, Gaza’s civil defence agency said.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and a Palestinian security source also confirmed the casualties.
The Israeli military said its troops identified several “armed terrorists” operating near the so-called Yellow Line, which separates areas controlled by Israeli forces and Hamas.
The military told AFP that troops carried out a precise strike after identifying a threat in the area. It said the operation hit the targets successfully.
A witness said a group of armed men entered Al-Maghazi refugee camp and forced their way into a house on Tuesday morning.
Residents confronted the men with stones and sticks. An Israeli drone then launched a missile strike at the crowd, killing five people, the witness said.
The witness, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the armed men later fled towards the border area east of the camp, which remains under Israeli control.
A Palestinian security source from Gaza’s interior ministry also confirmed the account.
The identity of the armed men remains unclear. However, the incident follows previous reports of clashes between residents and anti-Hamas groups allegedly supported by Israel.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis said it received two bodies after an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in the western part of the city.
An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the strike targeted a Hamas member in Khan Yunis. The spokesperson said further details were under assessment.
A ceasefire has remained in effect in Gaza since October. However, Israel has continued carrying out strikes against targets it considers security threats.
Gaza’s health ministry said at least 906 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began on October 10. The ministry operates under Hamas authority, though the United Nations considers its casualty figures reliable.
The Israeli military said five Israeli soldiers have also died during the same period.
AFP said media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented independent verification of casualty figures and restricted coverage of the conflict.
