Israeli fire killed three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, north of the southern city of Rafah, which remains under Israeli control, according to local health authorities, further straining the fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.

In a statement issued earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said forces identified "terrorists" who crossed the yellow line, which marks the areas the army still occupies. It said they were advancing toward troops in southern Gaza, posing an immediate threat, before it struck them. It did not provide evidence.

Medics said one of those killed was a woman. The identities of the two others weren't immediately clear.

The incident follows days of Israeli strikes on the enclave, provoking mutual accusations between Hamas and Israel over violations of the tenuou

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