bait|8 Palestinian merchants killed by Israeli army in Gaza

People walk on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younisbait, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Palestinian merchants were killed in an Israeli attack as they were waiting for commercial trucks along a road in the Gaza Strip, according to sources from the health authorities in Gaza on Monday.

None of the official Palestinian sources has provided further details. So far, the Israeli army has not commented on the matter.

As of Monday, the Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 37,347, with 85,372 injuries, the Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday that its operations continued in the central and southern Gaza Strip.

"IDF troops are continuing intelligence-based, targeted operations in the area of Rafah. IDF troops located numerous weapons and struck a number of structures rigged with explosives that posed a threat to the forces," it said.

"Over the past day, the troops eliminated armed terrorists in close-quarters combat. In addition, a number of military structures posing a threat to the troops and used by Hamas ... were destroyed," it added.■

People are seen on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A man bakes bread among the rubble in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People walk on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People are seen on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People walk past destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People are seen on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 17, 2024. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has led to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and over 85,000 others injured in Gaza, in addition to massive destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the health authorities in the enclave. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)