Israel attacks, demolitions continue throughout Gaza
Israeli fighter jets, artillery and tanks have shelled areas around Khan Younis, Gaza second-largest city in the territory’s south, despite the ongoing ceasefire.
Local residents told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces continue the demolition of residential buildings in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and northern Gaza City, as quadcopter drones were seen dropping grenades.
Israel allowed a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross, accompanied by Egyptian engineering equipment, to enter areas beyond the “yellow line” truce demarcation in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, to search for the bodies of Israeli captives believed to have been killed in the area.
It was the second time Israel has allowed Hamas members, accompanied by equipment, to enter areas beyond the so-called yellow line.
The fragile truce faced its biggest challenge earlier this week when Israel carried out strikes across Gaza that killed more than 100 people, following the killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, and the incomplete return of captives.
Israeli army demolishes homes in northern Gaza
The Israeli army has demolished residential buildings east of the Jabalia refugee camp, our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting, quoting local Palestinian media.
‘Heavy shelling, drone fire’ in eastern Khan Younis
A series of air strikes targeted eastern Khan Younis earlier. Witnesses described constant heavy shelling and drone fire hitting what’s left of residential homes and farmland beyond the “yellow line”.
People in the area say it is extremely challenging to cope with this new reality, especially those who have returned close to their homes adjacent to the yellow line, where the Israeli military is stationed.
We have also been told by Gaza’s civil defence agency that it’s struggling to reach some sites close to the yellow line because of the continuation of air strikes and Israeli drones hovering overhead.
We’ve also received an update from Gaza’s Health Ministry confirming five Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours, and civil defence teams managed to retrieve the bodies of 22 Palestinians killed in earlier Israeli strikes.
