Martyrs by occupation fire in Gaza, and Shaath announces Rafah crossing to open in days

Five Palestinians were martyred on Thursday by Israeli occupation army fire in the Gaza Strip, and occupation forces carried out a massive demolition operation east of Khan Yunis, while the head of the Palestinian National Committee for Gaza Administration announced that the Rafah crossing would open next week.

Sources in ambulance and emergency services in the Gaza Strip reported the martyrdom of four Palestinians and the injury of others in Israeli artillery shelling that targeted a group of Palestinians outside the deployment areas of the occupation army in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, in the northern Strip.

The source explained that the Palestinians were targeted while trying to collect firewood for heating due to the lack of fuel and electricity in the Strip.

Earlier, a Palestinian was martyred by occupation fire outside its deployment areas at Bani Suheila roundabout, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Strip.

With the continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid, sources in ambulance and emergency services in the Gaza Strip reported today the death of infant Ali Abu Zor (3 months old) due to the severe cold wave in the Strip.

The sources said that the child arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah as a lifeless body.

With Ali's death, the number of children who have died due to the cold since the beginning of winter has risen to eight, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip.

Demolition operations

Sources said today that Israeli occupation forces are carrying out a massive demolition operation east of Khan Yunis city, and sources said that the demolition operations took place at dawn today within the deployment areas of the occupation army, coinciding with helicopter fire.

Occupation forces continue demolition operations in various areas of northern and southern Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement (Reuters)

A report revealed satellite images showing that the Israeli army destroyed buildings in Gaza City outside the truce line, and the images also confirm Israel's encirclement of more areas of Gaza City.

According to the same sources, the occupation built fortifications in areas close to the yellow line, and also expanded this line within the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City.

Opening of Rafah crossing

On the other hand, the head of the Palestinian National Committee for Gaza Administration, Ali Shaath, announced on Thursday that the Rafah crossing would open in both directions next week, saying that the crossing "is more than a gate, it is a lifeline and a symbol of opportunities."

Sources reported that Shaath said - in a press statement - that "it is my responsibility to turn this moment into an opportunity to achieve a dignified future for the residents of the Gaza Strip."

Israeli sources quoted sources as saying that the ministerial committee would convene next Sunday to discuss the issue of opening the Rafah crossing.

Earlier, Israeli sources quoted a source as saying that no order had been issued yet to open the crossing, explaining that a decision from the political level was required to settle this matter.

For its part, sources reported, based on a political source, that the Rafah crossing would not open until the last body from Gaza was returned, and the same sources quoted sources as saying that Tel Aviv would prevent Gazans from returning to Gaza through the crossing, except for humanitarian cases.

Israel - which controls the Gaza side of the crossing - had refused to reopen it until the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) fulfilled its commitment - under the ceasefire agreement - to return the remains of the last hostage in the Strip.

After Ali Shaath's announcement, Israeli political sources said that special efforts were being made to return the remains of Ran Gvili.

Although the crossing was not officially under Israeli control after the crossings agreement signed between it and the Palestinian Authority in 2005, it has always exerted pressure - directly or indirectly - to control its opening and closing and the lists of those crossing through it.