An Israeli Air Force drone attacked a group of Palestinian terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip who planted an explosive device near troops, the military said on Thursday afternoon.
“An Air Force aircraft attacked the suspects to eliminate the threat,” the Israel Defense Forces stated.
The Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV channel reported that one person was killed and several others were wounded in the strike, which reportedly took place in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City.
The terrorist-run news outlet also reported that IDF ground forces opened fire on several Palestinians in the Beit Hanun area in the northeastern Strip.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces fired on an individual in southern Gaza who had approached them, posing an immediate threat, the army said.
The military did not provide information on the condition of the individual, saying only that a “hit was identified.”
On Monday, Israeli forces fired on two individuals who had approached them in southern Gaza, also posing an immediate threat according to the IDF. Palestinian media reported two dead in the incident.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces fired on a motorboat off the southern Gaza coast near Khan Yunis after it failed to heed warning shots.
The vessel had “violated security restrictions in the area and posed a threat,” the army stated, adding: “The IDF remains committed to neutralizing any threats to the safety of Israeli citizens and its forces.”
The first, 42-day phase of the ceasefire with Hamas, which went into effect on Jan. 19, expired at midnight on Saturday, after the terrorist organization rejected a U.S. proposal, to which Jerusalem agreed, to extend the current phase of the truce for 50 days.
Jerusalem subsequently announced it had suspended all humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that no supplies would enter Gaza until further notice, reaffirming that Jerusalem would not agree to a ceasefire without Hamas continuing to release hostages.
If Hamas continues its opposition to a ceasefire extension, “there will be additional consequences, which I will not detail here,” he warned.
Hamas insists on moving to Phase 2 of the ceasefire, which calls for talks on a permanent end to hostilities, a full IDF withdrawal from the coastal enclave, reconstruction and a prisoner-hostage exchange.
