JERUSALEM, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Thursday it had killed a Palestinian militant in southern Gaza, while Palestinian officials reported multiple civilian deaths from Israeli fire and airstrikes across the enclave.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its troops identified an individual who crossed the "Yellow Line," a demarcation marking Israeli-held territory under the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement. The military said the person approached soldiers in a manner that posed an "imminent threat," prompting them to open fire.
Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported that Israeli forces fired on civilians near Al-Alam junction, south of the Al-Mawasi area in Rafah, killing two people. Recovery of the bodies was reportedly delayed by the volatile security situation.
Further north, WAFA said at least six Palestinians, including a young girl, were killed late Thursday when Israeli airstrikes struck two residential homes in Deir al-Balah.
The "Yellow Line" has become a flashpoint for clashes. Israel describes it as a security buffer to protect stationed troops, while Palestinian residents and rights groups say the lack of clear physical markings often leads to civilians being targeted when accessing homes or farmland.
Gaza health authorities said the overall death toll from the Israeli offensive has reached 71,441, with 171,329 wounded since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. Since the truce in October 2025, at least 451 Palestinians have been killed and 1,251 others injured, while civil defense teams have recovered 710 bodies from previously destroyed buildings. ■
