Israeli airstrikes kill 5 people in southern Gaza, say officials

Israeli airstrikes killed five people and wounded 18 others in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, local health authorities said, after Hamas and Israel accused each other of violating an increasingly fragile near six-week-old truce.

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Medics said that one strike on a house in Bani Suhaila town east of Khan Younis killed three people, including a baby girl, and wounded 15 others, while another killed a man and wounded three others in the nearby Abassan town.

Israel’s military confirmed the strikes but said it was not aware of casualties.

Later on Thursday, Nasser Hospital officials said a fifth Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire in Abassan town too.

On Wednesday, Israel said it struck targets across the enclave after members of the Palestinian group fired on its troops, and Gaza medics said at least 25 people were killed, the highest toll since Oct.29, when at least 100 people were killed.

Hamas called the attacks a dangerous escalation and urged Arab mediators, Turkey and the United States, which brokered the ceasefire, to intervene.

In a statement later on Thursday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of changing markings that define areas Israel still occupies, in violation of the agreed-upon maps, which keeps Israel in control of over 50% of the enclave's areas.