CAIRO: Israeli air strikes killed at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, local health officials said, and Israel said one of the attacks targeted a Hamas finance chief. Medics said two of the Palestinians, Osama Abu Khater and Mohammad Abu Elwan, were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a vehicle in western Khan Yunis, in the south of the enclave. Two other people were wounded, they added.
Later on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said two people had also been killed in two separate Israeli air strikes in Gaza City and in Deir Al Balah in the central Gaza Strip, taking Wednesday's death toll to at least four.
A US-brokered ceasefire agreed last year calls for the eventual reconstruction of the territory, but little progress has been made as negotiators have failed to agree terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops. Israeli air strikes have continued. At least 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory's health officials, while the Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed. Israel and Hamas trade blame over responsibility for violations of the ceasefire agreement. — Reuters
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