United News of Bangladesh

Israeli airstrikes and tank fire killed at least four Palestinians, including two children, in Gaza on Monday, hospital officials said, as residents fled their homes following evacuation warnings. The attacks came about a week after a US delegation urged Israel to reduce its military strikes in the territory. In central Gaza's Bureij refugee camp, an Israeli strike hit a building after residents received an evacuation warning. A 4-year-old boy was killed after his family was unable to leave in time, according to Awda Hospital. His mother and sister were wounded. Israel's military did not immediately comment on the strike. Three other buildings were hit across Gaza after residents said they received similar warnings. People were seen rushing to safety, with some mothers carrying their children. Others moved through the rubble using wheelchairs or walking sticks. Israel's military said it carried out strikes in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp and Deir al-Balah after issuing warnings. It said the attacks targeted two Hamas weapons storage facilities located inside mosques. The military said the facilities contained dozens of Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition magazines and other military equipment, but did not provide evidence to support the claim. An earlier Israeli strike on a tent in Deir al-Balah killed a man, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital. The Israeli military said the man was a Hamas militant linked to its special forces. More casualties in southern Gaza In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, an Israeli strike killed one person and wounded five others, according to Nasser Hospital. Israeli tank fire also struck an area east of Khan Younis, killing a 10-year-old girl, the hospital said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the Khan Younis strike and said it was unaware of the incident involving the child. Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza despite a recent meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a US delegation seeking to advance a ceasefire agreement. US negotiator Jared Kushner asked Netanyahu to reduce Israel's attacks in Gaza during the meeting, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel has reported strikes on six of the seven days since the meeting. Israel says it is targeting militants Israel says its attacks target Hamas militants and military sites and are carried out in response to attacks and other alleged ceasefire violations. Although the intensity of fighting has declined since the ceasefire began in October, Gaza's Health Ministry says at least 1,288 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since then. The ministry, which is run by the Hamas-led government, does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its casualty figures. Militants have also carried out attacks on Israeli troops, and Israel says its military operations are a response to those attacks. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began. Palestinian officials have reported strikes on homes and police stations. Hamas has accused Israel of trying to destabilise Gaza and block progress on the next stages of the ceasefire, including disarmament, reconstruction and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. Israel warns over kites from Gaza Israeli officials have also raised concerns after several kites were found in a kibbutz near Gaza. No weapons or dangerous materials were attached to them. Before Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, burning kites and balloons launched from Gaza caused fires and other damage in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Sunday that Israel could intensify its attacks if Hamas does not prevent kites from being flown toward Israel. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem described the kites as “essentially children's toys” and accused Israel of using them as a justification for continuing military action. The October 7 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage. All hostages or their remains were later released. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,422 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.