Gaza City [Gaza], October 17: At least two people were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics said on Thursday, despite a ceasefire agreement reached last week.
The attack occurred near the city of Khan Younis in the southern part of the heavily damaged territory, according to the Nasser Hospital in the city.
The Israeli military said the report was being investigated.
Under the ceasefire deal with the Hamas, Israeli forces have withdrawn from major population centres in Gaza but remain in more than half of the territory pending an agreement on the second phase of the peace plan.
Several deadly incidents have already occurred since the ceasefire took effect on Friday. The Israeli military has warned civilians in Gaza to keep away from its troops.
Delay to opening of major Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza
The planned opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip will be delayed, according to Israeli authorities on Thursday.
The reopening of the major border crossing comes against the background of the peace plan to end the war in Gaza, which was signed on Monday.
"The date for the opening of the Rafah Crossing for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage, once the Israeli side, together with the Egyptian side, completes the necessary preparations," said COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency tasked with providing logistical assistance to Palestinian territories.
Egyptian sources said the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people could be delayed up to Sunday.
A COGAT spokesman said that the crossing would not be used for humanitarian aid even after it was opened for the movement of people.
"This was never agreed upon at any stage," he said.
Humanitarian aid would continue to cross into the Gaza Strip following security checks at the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel near the Egyptian border and at other crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip, "in full compliance with the signed agreement," he said.
Deliveries have been expanded under the agreement between Israel and Hamas. In the first phase, around 600 trucks carrying aid are supposed to enter every day.
Following a partial withdrawal of its troops, Israel continues to control more than half of the Gaza Strip.
A nurse working with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) told Swiss radio that aid deliveries were entering only slowly.
"People continue to live in tents, without proper water and electricity supply," Katja Storck said. She added that materials for caring for patients, including wheelchairs, were lacking.
Source: Qatar Tribune
