Rafah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP): Israel said Thursday that five of its troops were killed by friendly fire in a Gaza battle, as a rift emerged inside the war cabinet on how the Palestinian territory should be ruled in future.

More than seven months into the conflict sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack, Israeli forces were fighting Palestinian militants in Gaza's far-southern Rafah and in new flashpoints in northern and central areas of the besieged territory.

The army said that the five soldiers were killed when two Israeli tanks mistakenly fired shells at the building they were in during clashes in the northern Jabalia refuge camp on Wednesday.

"Five soldiers of the 202nd Paratrooper Battalion were killed last night in a mass casualty incident as a result of fire by our forces," the military said, adding that seven other troops were wounded.

Heavy fighting has flared again in the north following army warnings of "attempts by Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities" months after Israel had declared local militant command structures dismantled.

AFP reporters, witnesses and medics said Thursday that Israeli warplanes again targeted areas across Gaza overnight, including in Gaza City and its southern Zeitun area, Jabalia and the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The military's main focus has been Rafah near the Egyptian border, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an offensive in defiance of US warnings that more than a million civilians sheltering there could be caught in the crossfire.

Netanyahu on Wednesday argued that "we have to do what we have to do" and insisted that mass evacuations there had averted a much-feared "humanitarian catastrophe".

Phool Nagar: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif Thursday said that the government is working to modernize the healthcare system in Punjab.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a rural health unit in Phool Nagar today, she stated: “300 new Rural health units are being built and all units are being equipped with modern facilities”.

Maryam added that field hospitals are being set up in all cities of Punjab to provide health facilities to people at their doorstep.

Chief Minister Punjab further said that in a few months, all the hospitals of Punjab will be changed and there will not be any hospital in Punjab where free treatment is not provided.

Maryam further stated that whenever the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government comes. The development in the country ends as Nawaz Sharif's government end. I am taking Nawaz Sharif's spirit of service. Do not let the journey of development that was started in Nawaz Sharif's fourth government stop today. There was also a government of such a person who said that he did not come to know the prices of tomatoes, potatoes and onions.  

She also added that there is no word of impossible in the dictionary of Nawaz Sharif. It is my responsibility to deliver low-cost bread to the people. I take instructions from Nawaz Sharif every morning, he asks to make things easy for the people. We fulfill the promises we make, I am working only on merit, there will be no compromise on law and order situation.

The Chief Minister of Punjab said that a program has been started to repair and build 590 roads in Punjab, no road in Punjab will remain broken after five years.

She asked that the price of bread has been decreased because Nawaz Sharif had promised that he will make things easier when he comes to power. It is not an easy task to reduce inflation when it increases. The markets used to be heated by corruption in buying wheat, I have blocked that way.

Maryam also stated that there is no wheat crisis now, they are bringing a package of 400 billion for farmers in four months. They will further reduce inflation in Punjab, farmers will not have to take loans. ‘I assure farmers that there will be no such relief in the history’. In two months, the Rural Health Center has been activated, for one crop, the farmer will be given Rs150,000 per crop through the card.

Karachi: An increase of 1,600 rupees per tola of gold has been recorded in the country on Thursday.

According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewelers Association (APGJA), today the price of 24 karat per tola gold increased by Rs1,600 to Rs245,600.

Apart from this, the price of 24 karat gold of 10 grams is being recorded at Rs210,562. While the price of 22 karat of 10 grams has become Rs193,016 rupees.

It is pertinent to note that the price of per tola gold increased by 2900 rupees yesterday.

According to the association, the price of gold in the global bullion market is being recorded at $2390 after an increase of 25 dollars per ounce.