‘Israeli’ army claims targeting of five Palestinian fighters in southern Gaza

• The ‘Israeli’ army claims it targeted five Palestinian fighters in southern Gaza.
• Gaza hospitals report new casualties as deadly incidents continue despite the fragile ceasefire.

The ‘Israeli’ army claimed Friday that its forces targeted five Palestinian fighters in an area under its control in the southern Gaza Strip.

The announcement came after two consecutive days of deadly ‘Israeli’ airstrikes on the strip. The attacks occurred on the side controlled by 'Israel' near the so-called yellow line, which the army withdrew behind under the fragile ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States.

Read more: Hamas highlights growing violations by ‘Israeli’ forces

Details of the alleged confrontation

In a statement, the ‘Israeli’ army said its forces “recently detected five armed men emerging from underground infrastructure in eastern Rafah, east of the yellow line.”

The statement added that the fighters “approached army forces deployed in southern Gaza and posed a direct threat to them. As a result, the Israeli Air Force targeted their location.”

Separately, a hospital in Gaza told Agence France-Presse that one person was killed by 'Israeli' fire in another incident near Khan Younis in an area outside ‘Israeli’ control.

Gaza sees deadly days under the ceasefire

Gaza witnessed one of its deadliest days since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10. On Wednesday, 27 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes across the Strip, while civil defense authorities reported five more fatalities on Thursday.

'Israel' has carried out repeated strikes on what it claims are Hamas-linked targets since the ceasefire agreement was established. The area has also experienced several fatal incidents in which Palestinians were shot after approaching or crossing the yellow line.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 312 Palestinians have been killed by 'Israeli' fire since the ceasefire came into force.

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a resolution drafted by the United States supporting the peace plan presented by President Donald Trump for Gaza. Hamas rejected the text, saying it “does not meet the political demands and rights of our Palestinian people.”