Mentally-ill Palestinian women killed near Gaza border

A Hamas police officer prevents Palestinians to approach near the Israeli Gaza border fence in east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. A file photo.

A 58-year-old mentally ill Palestinian woman was shot to death by Israeli soldiers near the border area between the south-eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics in the enclave said on Saturday.

Ashraf al-Qedra, Gaza emergency chief in the Hamas-run ministry of health told reporters that the woman was identified as Amena Qudeih.

Her body was found in the 300-metre buffer zone Israel established along the border and was brought into Gaza following coordination organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory says 13 Palestinians were killed near the border area since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal was reached in 2012.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the incident.

Late Friday, Israel said its air force hit a rocket launching site in Gaza, but Palestinian security officials said no injuries or damage were reported.