GAZA, March 6 – The Israeli army on Thursday killed three Palestinians in the east of Gaza City, according to Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses.
“The attack targeted a group of people near the Al-Tawfiq Mosque in the Al-Shuja’iyya neighborhood, in the northern Gaza Strip,” the sources told Xinhua.
“One person was killed instantly, while three others were critically wounded. They were taken to the Baptist Hospital in central Gaza City, where two later died from their injuries,” the sources added.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee confirmed the strike, saying that the army had identified individuals “attempting to plant an explosive device” near its forces in northern Gaza and launched an airstrike to eliminate the threat.
Palestinian sources rejected the Israeli claims, saying the victims were civilians returning to check on and repair their homes, which had been damaged during the war.
The incident came amid ongoing tensions in Gaza as negotiations for the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remain stalled.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, the reported death toll has reached 48,446, with 111,852 injured.
XINHUA
