Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip killed three Palestinians on Monday near Rafah, escalating tensions amid a delicate ceasefire supported by the U.S. Military sources stated that the individuals were deemed as “terrorists” crossing a restricted line and approaching troops, prompting the deadly response. Among the casualties was a woman, while the identities of the two others remain undisclosed.
Recent days have witnessed ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the region, triggering accusations between Hamas and Israel regarding ceasefire violations following years of conflict. Reports indicate that Israeli forces are still active in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, where house demolitions persist.
Since the ceasefire’s implementation on October 10, the situation has somewhat stabilized, enabling Palestinians to return to their homes and facilitating aid access. Hamas released 20 living hostages in exchange for over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including wartime detainees. However, sporadic violence continues, with Palestinian health authorities reporting 239 deaths in Gaza due to Israeli strikes post-truce.
In a reciprocal move, Israel delivered 45 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, raising the total to 270 returned remains, yet only 78 have been identified. Challenges in identifying bodies, compounded by alleged signs of mistreatment, have hindered the process, prompting the ministry to seek families’ assistance through online photos. Hamas also returned the remains of hostages, with 20 out of 28 bodies buried in Gaza handed over.
The retrieval of the deceased has been a complex task, with forensic efforts hampered by limited resources, including a shortage of DNA testing kits in Gaza. Israel confirmed the return of three soldiers’ remains, further underscoring the delicate nature of the ongoing ceasefire.
