Hamas Says Israeli Troops Kill Fighter in Gaza

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a protest calling for lifting the blockade on Gaza | Mohammed Salem/Reuters
A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a protest calling for lifting the blockade on Gaza | Mohammed Salem/Reuters
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Hamas Says Israeli Troops Kill Fighter in Gaza

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a protest calling for lifting the blockade on Gaza | Mohammed Salem/Reuters
A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a protest calling for lifting the blockade on Gaza | Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Israel's military said soldiers opened fire on Thursday after spotting two Palestinian gunmen near the Gaza border fence, and the Hamas militant group said one of its fighters was killed.

The last round of violence in the Gaza Strip and neighboring southern Israel was in May, with hundreds of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes over three days.

The health ministry in Gaza, an enclave run by Hamas militants, said 28-year-old Palestinian Mahmoud al-Adham was shot and killed in Thursday's incident near Beit Hanoun in the northern part of the territory.

The Israeli military says it noticed two "armed suspects" near the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence and "fired in order to drive them away".

Gaza's Health Ministry said al-Adham was wounded in his leg and died later at the hospital.

In a statement, Hamas's armed wing said Israeli forces deliberately targeted a fighter "on duty" near the border. It vowed to retaliate.

"The occupation bears responsibility for the consequences of such a criminal act," it said, referring to Israel.

After May's fighting, there was a ceasefire brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations.

But tensions have remained high, with Hamas accusing Israel of failing to abide by the terms - never publicly confirmed by Israeli leaders - of a truce deal to ease a blockade of Gaza.



Lebanon State Media Says Israel Blows Up Houses on Border

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and dated October 24, 2024 shows a view of the village of the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on the border with Israel, amid the ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and dated October 24, 2024 shows a view of the village of the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on the border with Israel, amid the ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
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Lebanon State Media Says Israel Blows Up Houses on Border

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and dated October 24, 2024 shows a view of the village of the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on the border with Israel, amid the ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and dated October 24, 2024 shows a view of the village of the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on the border with Israel, amid the ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)

Lebanese state media said the Israeli army on Friday detonated explosives planted inside houses in three border villages that have been battered by the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Hezbollah says it is engaged in fighting Israeli forces in the area, more than a month into an Israeli ground invasion aimed at pushing the Iran-backed group away from the border.

"Since this morning, the Israeli enemy's army has been carrying out bombing operations inside the villages of Yaroun, Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil area, with the aim of destroying residential homes there," the official National News Agency said.

Israeli forces also conducted a raid in the nearby town of Bint Jbeil, NNA said, after Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli troops in the flashpoint border region, AFP reported.

Hezbollah said on Thursday it had "ambushed" Israeli ground forces attempting to infiltrate Yaroun.

The group has claimed eight operations since Wednesday targeting Israeli troops on the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras.

Friday's explosions are the latest in a string of similar incidents that have impacted the border area.

According to NNA, Israeli troops blew up buildings in at least seven border villages last month.

Footage verified by AFP on Monday showed massive blasts that ripped through Mais al-Jabal and reduced homes to rubble.

Israel's Channel 12 last month broadcast footage appearing to show one of its presenters blow up a building while embedded with soldiers in the village of Aita al-Shaab.