Israeli army reports security incident in southern Gaza One militant killed

The Israeli military says its forces operating in the southern Gaza Strip responded to a security incident involving two individuals who crossed a designated military boundary.

In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the incident took place on December 12, when troops identified two people who had crossed what the army refers to as the “yellow line”. The IDF said the individuals were considered an immediate threat to the soldiers.

According to the statement, Israeli forces opened fire, killing one of the two. There was no further information on the second individual.

The military said troops under its Southern Command remain deployed in the area in line with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to act against what it described as any immediate threat.

US President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in Gaza is expected to move into a new stage in the coming weeks, even as key elements of the agreement remain unresolved, and Israel steps up its military control of the territory.

The initial phase of the 20-point framework is close to completion following the return of all but one of the bodies of hostages held by militant groups. Uncertainty persists over whether Hamas will be able to locate and recover the final set of remains, according to officials familiar with the process.

With the ceasefire now more than two months old and facing growing international scrutiny, Trump is pushing ahead with a second, more complex phase. That stage is expected to address the disarmament of Hamas, the launch of reconstruction efforts and the creation of a post-war governing structure for Gaza.

Central to the proposed governance model is the establishment of a so-called “Board of Peace”, which would oversee the administration of the enclave and be led by Trump alongside other international leaders.

“It’ll be one of the most legendary boards ever. Everybody wants to be on it,” Trump said at the White House on December 10.

By Aghakazim Guliyev