Israeli forces kill Palestinian near Gaza-Israel boundary

A Palestinian affiliated with Hamas was killed and four others were wounded by Israeli tank fire in the besieged Gaza Strip on Monday, the enclave’s health ministry reported.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra identified the slain Palestinian as Mahmoud al-Abed al-Nabahin, 24, adding that one of the wounded was in serious condition.

Hamas, the de facto ruling party in Gaza, confirmed that Nabahin was a member of its armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas said two of its military wing's observation posts had been hit east of Beit Hanoun.

The Israeli army said it had targeted a Hamas observation post after a soldier was lightly wounded earlier in the day when a bullet struck his helmet.

An unconfirmed picture circulating on social media showed the damaged helmet allegedly worn by the soldier.

At least 244 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli fire since regular protests known as the Great March of Return began along the boundary between the small Palestinian territory and Israel in March, demanding an end to the Israel-imposed blockade of Gaza and the implementation of Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

Two Israelis, both members of the country’s armed forces, have died during the same time frame.

An informal truce between Hamas and Israel has brought relative calm to the border in recent weeks.

But there have been warnings of another escalation since Israel reportedly held up the latest cash transfer from Gulf state Qatar to Gaza, set to take place under the truce to help ease the dire humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave.

Qatar's ambassador to Gaza said Monday that the $15m in cash, to pay the salaries of Hamas civil servants in the enclave, is expected to be delivered via Israel this week.

Israel's government has not commented. Its permission is required since the cash must be delivered via Israeli territory.