Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza

Gaza, Apr 21: At least five Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes across Gaza Strip on Monday, even as fighters from Hamas clashed with gunmen from an Israeli-backed militia, according to officials and witnesses.

Palestinian health authorities said one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Another strike in Gaza City claimed one life and left several others injured.

Later in the day, at least three more people were killed in an airstrike in western Khan Younis, according to officials at Nasser Hospital.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment on the incidents, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated on the ground as residents and sources close to Hamas reported clashes between Palestinian fighters and members of an Israeli-backed militia. The confrontation occurred after militia gunmen reportedly entered a Hamas-controlled area east of Khan Younis.

As the militia attempted to withdraw, a Hamas fighter allegedly fired an anti-tank grenade at their vehicle. Witnesses said an explosion was heard, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.

A video verified by Reuters showed armed men, believed to be from the militia, dressed in black uniforms and carrying assault rifles entering a Hamas-run area in eastern Khan Younis before gunfire erupted.

The developments highlight the continuing volatility in Gaza, with both airstrikes and ground clashes contributing to rising tensions in the region.