JERUSALEM: An Israeli aircraft on Tuesday hit what the military said was an armed Palestinian seen approaching the Israeli border fence in Gaza.
"A short while ago, troops spotted an armed terrorist approaching the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip," an army statement said.
An Israeli military "aircraft targeted him. A hit was identified," it added.
The statement did not confirm whether the man had been killed and the Palestinian health ministry in the Hamas-controlled strip had no immediate comment. Last month, Israeli forces assassinated a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the Gaza Strip, sparking a two-day flare-up which killed 36 Palestinians.
Islamic Jihad fired around 450 rockets at Israel, many of which were intercepted by its Iron Dome defence system.
Meanwhile, Israel allowed the import of around 20 rescue and firefighting vehicles into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said.
The equipment, which was donated by Qatar, includes several SUVs fitted with water pumps. Gaza's Civil Defense previously had just 33 vehicles to serve the territory's 2 million people, including a single fire truck with a hydraulic platform.
Israel and Egypt have blockaded Gaza since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
Raed al-Dahshan, a spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defense, said Tuesday's shipment was “unprecedented.”
The Civil Defense said no firefighting equipment has been allowed into Gaza since 2007, and the last shipment of fire trucks was brought in by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in 1998.
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, and Israel holds the Islamist movement responsible for all hostile activity coming from the territory, although it has also hit other militant groups there.
Israeli armys says strike hits Palestinian in southern Gaza
https://arab.news/z2kgc
Israeli armys says strike hits Palestinian in southern Gaza
- An Israeli military "aircraft targeted" what it said is an armed Palestinian
- Israel allowed the import of around 20 rescue and firefighting vehicles into Gaza
Israel keeps Al-Aqsa Mosque closed for 11th day amid war with Iran
- The Palestinian Authority warned that this closure marks the first time since 1967 that Ramadan rituals have been denied at the site
LONDON: Israeli authorities continued to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem for the 11th day on Tuesday, as the country announced a state of emergency due to its conflict with Iran.
Palestinians were barred from performing prayers at the sites, including those related to Ramadan, which has now entered its last 10 days. The Palestinian Authority warned that this closure marks the first time since 1967 that Taraweeh prayers and Itikaf (seclusion for worship) have been denied inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Jerusalem Governorate has also warned of a dangerous escalation in incitement led by extremist groups concerning the Al-Aqsa Mosque, amid ongoing closure measures, according to Wafa news agency.
It added: “What is happening cannot be considered temporary security measures … but rather falls within a political and ideological agenda aimed at altering the existing religious, historical, and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.”
Israeli authorities shut down Al-Aqsa in June 2025 during 12 days of conflict with Iran.
Israel and the US have been carrying out multiple airstrikes inside Iran since the end of February. These strikes have led to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, along with other senior officials. In response, Iran launched missiles into Israel and several regional countries.
