Nine Palestinians killed in Gaza ahead of humanitarian truce

, Aug 4: At least nine Palestinians were killed on Monday across the Gaza Strip ahead of a seven-hour humanitarian truce proposed by Israel.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra told Xinhua that five people were killed in an Israeli air raid in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabaliya.

Two more people, including a child, were killed in separate airstrikes in Rafah and Gaza city.

Another two people succumbed to their injuries sustained during previous airstrikes in Shifa.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Monday announced that it will hold fire for seven hours in parts of the Gaza Strip to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and for displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

The humanitarian truce is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., however, would not apply in areas of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Since Israel's military operation started July 8, the death toll of Palestinians has escalated to 1,849.

Sixty-four Israelis, including 61 soldiers, have also been killed during the ongoing Israeli offensive which aims at ending rocket fire from Gaza.

IANS