Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the southern area of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said on Wednesday, reported Xinhua. According to a military spokesperson, tanks were dispatched after troops spotted six armed individuals in western Rafah on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the militants had fired at a tank, triggering an exchange of fire that included airstrikes. Israel's Army Radio reported that two Israeli soldiers sustained light injuries in the fighting. Palestinian sources in Gaza reported a series of airstrikes west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, alongside artillery shelling. Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza despite a ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025. The more-than-two-year Israeli offensive has put Gaza into ruins and killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.