GAZA -- At least 38 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday across the Gaza Strip by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes, according to medical sources, as Israel's military reported the deaths of seven soldiers in combat in the south of the enclave.

Witnesses and local medics said Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians waiting near a U.S.-backed aid distribution point in the Netzarim corridor, in central Gaza. Al-Awda Hospital said it received 10 bodies, some unidentified, and treated 53 wounded from what it called a "direct targeting" of civilians waiting for food assistance. (Gaza Strip-Israeli Attacks-Casualty)

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TEHRAN -- Iran on Wednesday executed three men convicted of cooperating with and spying for Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported.

The men, identified as Edris Aali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad-Rasoul, were hanged in a prison in the northwestern city of Urmia after being convicted of cooperating with Israel and importing equipment used in the assassination of Iranian figures, the report said. (Iran-Spy-Execution)

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JERUSALEM -- The Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) said on Wednesday U.S. airstrikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility destroyed key infrastructure, rendering the uranium enrichment plant inoperable.

In a statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office, the IAEC said Sunday's U.S. strikes, coupled with Israeli attacks on other components of Iran's nuclear program, have set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. (Israel-US-Nuclear Site)

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TEHRAN -- Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Wednesday its Chief Commander Ali Shadmani, who was injured in an Israeli airstrike, has succumbed to his wounds.

Shadmani, who had recently replaced Gholam Ali Rashid at the helm of the military body, was severely wounded in an Israeli attack on Iran last week, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. (Iran-Israel-Commander) Enditem