GAZA: At least three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday, according to local health officials, as violence continues despite a US-brokered ceasefire that has been in effect for over five months. Two others were reported wounded after an Israeli missile targeted a group of Palestinians near the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.
The escalation comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign alongside the United States against Iran and a renewed offensive against Hezbollah, which has included incursions into southern Lebanon. Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, more than 72,000 people have been killed in the region.
In Gaza, health officials report that at least 50 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the Iran conflict began a month ago. Meanwhile, violence has also flared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces shot and killed a 22-year-old man near Hebron. Palestinian security sources identified him as Ramzi Awawada and accused Israeli soldiers of leaving him to bleed to death while preventing medical personnel from reaching him. The Israeli military, however, stated that the man was shot after allegedly running toward soldiers with a knife.
Human rights groups and local medics have raised concerns about settler violence in the West Bank, noting that movement restrictions imposed during Israel’s conflict with Iran have hindered timely medical assistance. Since February 28, at least five Palestinians have reportedly been killed by settlers taking advantage of these conditions, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The latest incidents underscore the fragility of the ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank and highlight the compounding impact of regional conflicts on local Palestinian communities.
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