GAZA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone strike near Gaza City's al-Batsh cemetery killed four Palestinians and wounded three others, medical officials said, in an area where the body of Israeli soldier Ran Gvili was recently recovered.

The strike targeted a group of people in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of the city. The medical officials added that three others were injured in the attack.

Although the neighborhood lies outside Israel's main military deployment zone, residents reported days of heavy shelling and gunfire linked to ongoing Israeli search operations.

The incident comes amid rising casualties since a ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. Gaza health authorities report that Israeli fire has killed 488 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,300 in the months following the truce.

The Gaza health authorities also issued a warning Tuesday over the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing, which they say is pushing the enclave's healthcare system toward collapse.

Officials said 20,000 patients with medical referrals are trapped in Gaza, unable to travel abroad for treatment, including 4,000 cancer patients and 4,500 children. Since the crossing came under Israeli control in May 2024, at least 1,268 patients have died while awaiting permission to leave, according to the health authorities' records.

"The continued closure is exacerbating health conditions to dangerous levels," the authorities said, noting that only 3,100 patients have been allowed to leave in nearly two years.

On Sunday, Israel announced it would allow a "limited" reopening of the crossing for individuals under its full control, but humanitarian groups said the restrictions still amount to a death sentence for patients with critical illnesses. ■