Three people have been killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said on Monday.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that an eight-year-old boy was among the victims. Other people were reportedly injured.
An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that there had been an attack in the Gaza Strip targeting a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. She said that the consequences of the attack are still being assessed.
Attacks despite ceasefire
Officially, a ceasefire has been in place in the Gaza Strip since October last year. Nevertheless, Israeli attacks and armed incidents continue to occur. According to the health authority controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, more than 1,000 people have been killed since the ceasefire began.
US President Donald Trump's peace plan, backed by a UN resolution, provides for the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of the Islamist group Hamas and a lasting peace agreement. However, Hamas has refused to lay down its weapons.
According to media reports, the Israeli military has expanded its control of the largely destroyed coastal strip from just over 50% to around 70% of the territory. The remainder remains under Hamas control.
Broadcast: Warning over Hamas's preparations for war
Senior members of the Israeli military intelligence service had warned Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir that Hamas was preparing for a new war, according to a report by Israeli broadcaster Kan.
The militant organization is reportedly manufacturing hundreds of improvised explosive devices every month, recruiting new fighters and has resumed training members of its elite Nakba unit.
Hamas is reportedly also attempting to smuggle drones and communications equipment into the Gaza Strip via the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and rebuilding its underground infrastructure.
Reports also indicate that the Israeli army is prepared for a resumption of fighting against Hamas, but Washington wants to continue pushing ahead with Trump's peace initiative.
The information could not be independently verified.
