Five killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, military says

Five people have been killed by airstrikes in the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza, the Israeli military said on Friday.

In a post on Telegram, the military described those targeted as “terrorists,” saying they had “emerged from underground terrorist infrastructure” in the southern city of Rafah.

The group “approached” Israeli troops stationed in the area, “posing an immediate threat to them,” it said.

According to the military, the incident occurred beyond the “yellow line,” which demarcates the area to which Israeli troops retreated after a ceasefire came into effect last month.

Palestinian media reported one person was killed by Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. It was initially unclear whether they were referring to the same incident.

It was not possible to verify the accounts of either side.

According to Israeli media reports, some 100 to 200 armed Hamas fighters are hiding in tunnels in the Rafah area. They are said to be pushing to be allowed to leave for Palestinian-controlled areas of the strip – a demand that Israel has so far rejected.

The army radio, citing the military, reported that the five people killed were likely part of the Hamas group hiding out in the area.

It comes after Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to an attack on Israeli soldiers.

Some 25 people were killed in the strikes, according to Palestinian reports.

Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 after more than two years of war, fatal clashes take place almost daily.