Israeli army kills 3 Palestinians in Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed two Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday night.

According to an IDF statement, the two crossed the "yellow line" to approach the Israeli troops, posing an immediate threat to them.

The "yellow line" marks the Israeli army's redeployment boundary under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, effective on Oct. 10.

"IDF troops in the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat," the statement read.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel said its troops killed another Palestinian who crossed the "yellow line" and moved toward them.

According to Palestinian sources, the victim, identified as Sami Ahmad Abu Darabi, was killed after Israeli tanks fired several artillery shells and machine-gun rounds toward areas near the "yellow line" on the outskirts of Beit Lahia.

Israel has carried out near-daily attacks in Gaza since the fragile ceasefire took effect, during which Gaza's health authorities have reported over 400 Palestinian deaths. ■