An Israeli drone strike Monday killed three Palestinians who crossed the ceasefire line near the Morag corridor in central Gaza, according to hospital officials.
The Israeli military said the individuals approached troops and posed an immediate threat. Weapons and intelligence equipment were found on them, the military said.
The strike came as Gaza awaited a planned announcement of a new governance body, known as the Board of Peace, under a U.S.-brokered plan. Hamas has said it will dissolve its current government once the new committee assumes control.
The ceasefire, which began in October following a two-year conflict, remains in its early phase. Both sides have accused each other of violations. Recovering the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza remains a priority.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 440 people have died since the truce began. Israel maintains control over a buffer zone covering more than half of the territory, while the Hamas-led administration oversees the remainder.
Throughout the conflict, Israel has supported anti-Hamas factions. On Monday, an armed group in southern Gaza claimed responsibility for the killing of Lt. Col. Mahmoud al-Astal, a senior Hamas police officer, in the Muwasi area. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry confirmed his death.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem on Sunday called for faster formation of the new Palestinian technocratic committee meant to govern Gaza. Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority has announced the committee’s members. It remains unclear if the selections will be approved by Israel or the U.S.
Officials say President Trump is expected to announce appointees to the Board of Peace in the coming days. The plan outlines steps for Palestinian governance, disarming Hamas, deploying international security forces, further Israeli withdrawal, and reconstruction. U.S. officials have reported limited progress on these fronts.
On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined a video conference with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari officials to prepare for the next phase of the ceasefire. The talks followed up on a December meeting in Miami.
In Gaza City, dozens of Palestinians, including medical personnel, protested outside the International Committee of the Red Cross office, calling for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. The demonstration was organized by the Palestinian Prisoners Committee.
Separately, Israeli authorities confirmed the death of Hamza Abdullah Abdelhadi Adwan, a 67-year-old detainee from Gaza. His family was notified by the Israeli military that he died in custody on Sept. 9 following his detention at a checkpoint on Nov. 12, 2024, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoner Society.
Adwan, the father of nine, had reported health issues. Two of his children were killed during the Gaza conflict. The Israeli military said Monday that the case is under police investigation and findings will be forwarded to the military prosecutor’s office.
Since the war began, at least 87 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody, including 51 from Gaza, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission said. The group alleges that more than 100 detainees died due to torture, starvation, lack of medical care, or abuse.
Iran allows international calls, keeps internet blocks
Iran temporarily lifted a communications restriction Tuesday, allowing mobile phone users to make international calls for the first time in days, according to accounts from Tehran. However, text messaging and internet access beyond government-approved websites remained blocked.
Witnesses told The Associated Press they could place outbound calls but were still unable to receive calls from outside Iran. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of retaliation.
The restrictions follow nearly two weeks of anti-government protests. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has monitored past unrest, reported Tuesday that at least 646 people have died during the demonstrations, including 512 protesters and 134 members of the security forces. The group estimated more than 10,700 people have been detained.
Authorities initially cut all external communications on Thursday as protests escalated.
In response to the unrest, several foreign governments issued statements condemning the Iranian government’s actions. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said he summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest the use of force, mass arrests, and internet shutdowns. He voiced support for European Union sanctions linked to human rights violations in Iran.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also called on Iranian authorities to stop using violence against peaceful protesters. “The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop,” he said, criticizing the characterization of protesters as terrorists and describing public references to potential death penalty use as “extremely worrying.”
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said her government is exploring measures to help restore freedoms in Iran. She also summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest the shutdown of internet access, which she said enables violations to occur without scrutiny.
On Monday, two individuals reportedly entered the Iranian embassy compound in Helsinki without authorization and removed the Iranian flag. Police said they also painted the embassy’s perimeter wall.
Iranian state television reported that security forces arrested individuals described as members of terrorist groups allegedly linked to Israel in Zahedan, in southeastern Iran. The report claimed the group entered from Iran’s eastern border carrying U.S.-made weapons and explosives. No additional details were provided, and the Israeli military had no immediate comment.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai expressed support for the protesters, linking the unrest to long-standing state-imposed restrictions on women and girls. “Iran’s future must be driven by the Iranian people, and include the leadership of Iranian women and girls — not external forces or oppressive regimes,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
France confirmed reports that it had restructured its embassy in Tehran. The French Foreign Ministry said nonessential staff left the country earlier this week, though the ambassador remains and operations continue.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he believes the Iranian government is losing public legitimacy and is nearing collapse, citing its reliance on force. “If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it’s effectively at the end,” Merz said Tuesday during a visit to India. He called for a peaceful resolution and said Germany is coordinating with the United States and European allies.
The Israeli military said it is monitoring events in Iran and remains on alert but has not changed its civilian guidance. “The protests in Iran are an internal matter,” wrote Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
Over the summer, Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites led to a 12-day conflict that, according to Israeli figures, killed nearly 1,200 Iranians and around 30 Israelis. Iran has warned of retaliation if attacked by Israel or the United States.
