Israel kills four Palestinian militants in Gaza

The Israeli army killed four Palestinian militants on Monday as they emerged from a tunnel in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, accusing them of opening fire on its soldiers.

In a statement, the army said that “four militants emerged shortly ago from a tunnel and fired at our soldiers (…) our forces killed” the militants.

The Israeli military described the incident as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” according to Agence France-Presse.

Last Saturday, the Gaza Strip witnessed a renewed escalation on the ground, with the Israeli army carrying out simultaneous bombardments targeting areas in the north, east and south of the enclave, alongside the demolition of residential buildings.

The artillery strikes were accompanied by naval movements off the southern coast of the territory and gunfire from helicopters in areas close to the border, causing powerful explosions heard across a wide area.

Military operations also extended to neighborhoods east of Khan Younis, where residential buildings were demolished, while strikes hit the outskirts of Gaza City and northern areas, as military activity continues at a high pace across the enclave.

Alongside the military escalation, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Gaza’s health system is nearing collapse amid severe shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, as well as the disruption of vital services, including surgeries, intensive care and treatment for chronic diseases, placing thousands of patients and wounded at serious risk.

Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 11, the death toll has risen to 576, with 1,543 people injured, and 717 bodies recovered from various locations.

Earlier, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that 37 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, warning that children continue to face serious risks due to ongoing military operations and the deterioration of health, water and education systems.