‘Israeli’ army says contractor killed in Gaza “accident”

The ‘Israeli’ military announced that a contractor was killed in an "operational accident" in Gaza on Wednesday, marking the sixth ‘Israeli’ fatality since a ceasefire with Hamas was reached in October.

In a statement, the ‘Israeli’ military said: "Earlier today, during activity by the Israeli military and security forces in the Gaza Strip, an employee of a contracting company carrying out engineering projects on behalf of the Ministry of Defense was killed as a result of an operational accident. His family has been notified."

The military confirmed that he was an ‘Israeli’ citizen.

Reports identified him as Raed Abu Al-Qian, a resident of Hura in southern ‘Israel’.

The Gaza war erupted following the events of October 7, 2023, and lasted for two years.

A ceasefire that has been marred by violations took effect last October, with both the ‘Israeli’ military and Hamas accusing each other of breaching the truce.

Since the ceasefire began, ‘Israel’ has killed at least 1,027 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

The ‘Israeli’ military says it has lost five soldiers in Gaza during the same period.

Under the stalled second phase of the US-backed ceasefire plan, ‘Israel’ was expected to gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip and Hamas was to hand over its weapons, neither of which has occurred.

‘Israel’ now says it controls at least 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, up from just over half of the territory following its withdrawal on the first day of the truce.