Jerusalem: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday that its soldiers had opened fire on a group of armed people near the Nitzana crossing on the border with Egypt.
“A short while ago, approximately 20 suspects, including several that were armed, arrived from Egyptian territory towards the area of the border with Israel, adjacent to the Nitzana opening. IDF soldiers who operated in the area opened fire towards the armed individuals, and hits were identified,” the IDF said in a statement on Telegram.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed, and some 240 others were abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 24,100 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.
