Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip have reportedly killed three Palestinians near Rafah, a city under Israeli control. The incident occurred when the military engaged individuals crossing the designated yellow line, which signifies areas still under Israeli occupation. According to medics, one victim was a woman, while the identities of the other two remain unidentified.
This event follows a series of Israeli attacks in the region, leading to tensions between Hamas and Israel over alleged breaches of the recent ceasefire agreement. Residents have reported ongoing house demolitions in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City by Israeli forces.
Despite the ceasefire coming into effect on October 10, sporadic violence persists. Palestinian health authorities claim that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 239 deaths in Gaza since the truce, with nearly half occurring in a single retaliatory strike last week. There have also been casualties among Israeli soldiers, with three reported deaths.
Furthermore, the Gaza Health Ministry received 45 bodies of Palestinians previously held by Israel, bringing the total returned bodies to 270. However, only 78 of these bodies have been identified due to challenges in the identification process, including alleged signs of abuse and lack of DNA testing resources in Gaza. The ministry has resorted to posting photos of the remains online to aid in identification by families.
Hamas has exchanged 20 living hostages for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and has committed to returning the bodies of other hostages. Despite some progress, the process remains incomplete, with Israel accusing Hamas of delaying the return of remains.