An Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, killed at least nine Palestinians, including two local journalists, on Saturday. Gaza’s health ministry reported that the strike also injured several others. This attack happened while Hamas leaders were in Cairo for talks about a possible ceasefire with mediators.
Hamas’s unprecedented assault on Israel on 7 October 2023 saw about 1,200 people killed and 251 others taken to Gaza as hostages.
A strike hit a car, badly hurting several people. There were injuries both inside and outside the vehicle, health officials said.
Witnesses and other journalists said the people in the car were working for a charity called Al-Khair Foundation in Beit Lahiya. They were with journalists and photographers when the strike happened. Palestinian media reported that Israeli forces killed at least three local journalists.
The incident shows how weak the January 19 ceasefire is. This ceasefire stopped big fights in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian health officials say that several people have been killed by Israeli fire, even though the truce is in place.
Hamas blamed Israel for breaking the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, it said 150 Palestinians have been killed since January 19.
Hamas called on mediators to pressure Israel to follow the ceasefire deal. It also blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deadlock.
Since the first phase of the ceasefire ended on March 2, Israel has refused to start the second phase of talks. This phase would include discussions on a permanent end to the conflict, which is Hamas’ main demand.
The incident happened at the same time as Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya visited Cairo for more ceasefire talks. These talks aim to solve issues with Israel and prevent fighting from starting again in Gaza.
On Friday, Hamas said it would release an American-Israeli prisoner if Israel starts the next phase of ceasefire talks to end the conflict. But Israel rejected this offer, calling it “psychological warfare.”
Deadly Strikes Target Media Workers as Violence Escalates in Gaza
Hamas said it was ready to free Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier from New Jersey, after mediators suggested talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal.
Israel, however, wants to extend the temporary first phase of the ceasefire. This idea is supported by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says it will only release more prisoners if the second phase begins.
During the first six weeks of the truce, fighters released 33 prisoners. Eight of them were already dead. In return, Israel freed about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas said the next move is up to Israel after it offered to release an Israeli-US prisoner and return the bodies of four others as part of the truce talks.
A statement from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said, “This terrible crime is part of the ongoing attacks on Palestinian journalists. They risk their lives to show the truth and reveal the crimes of the occupation to the world.”
“These violent attacks on journalists are a war crime and clearly break international laws, especially the Geneva Convention, which protects journalists during conflicts.”
Ismail Thawabteh, the director of Hamas-affiliated media in Gaza, said local photojournalists were killed while using a drone to film a Ramzan dining table in Beit Lahia.
He said they were “directly targeted by Israeli forces in two airstrikes, even though their work was clear.”