Israeli strike kills five Palestinians in northern Gaza, medics say

Five Palestinians, including three children, have been killed by an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip, according to medics and first responders.

Palestinian officials said a drone struck a group of people near a mosque in the town of Beit Lahia on Wednesday evening.

Local journalists identified the dead as Abdullah al-Abed, 9, Salah al-Abed, 12, Mohammad Balousha, 14, Alaa Balousha, 46, and Anas Abu Foul, 19.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it targeted what it called "a terrorist" who had approached troops in the area of the Yellow Line, which marks territory held by Israeli forces, and posed an immediate threat.

A Hamas spokesman condemned what he described as "the horrific massacre".

There has been a ceasefire in Gaza since last October, but it is fragile at best.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the strip says at least 786 Palestinians have been killed and 2,200 injured in Israeli attacks since it came into force.

The Israeli military says four of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian armed groups over the same period.

Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire agreement.

The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Israel responded by launching a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, during which more than 72,560 people have been killed, according to the territory's health ministry.