Israeli airstrike kills nine Palestinians, including journalists

Sharjah 24 – Reuters: At least nine Palestinians, including three local journalists, were killed and several others wounded on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza's northern Beit Lahiya town, according to the local health ministry. This attack occurred as Hamas leaders held ceasefire talks with mediators in Cairo.

Casualties and details of the attack

Several individuals were critically injured when the airstrike hit a car, resulting in casualties both inside and outside the vehicle. Health officials shared the details with Reuters, confirming that those in the car were on a mission for the Al-Khair Foundation charity in Beit Lahiya, accompanied by journalists and photographers. At least three local journalists were among the dead.

Fragility of the ceasefire agreement

The incident highlights the fragility of the January 19 ceasefire agreement, which had halted large-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip. Despite the truce, Palestinian health officials report that dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire since then.

Hamas denies allegations of violating ceasefire

Salama Marouf, the head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied allegations from the Israeli army. He clarified that the team involved in the attack was made up of civilians, working near a shelter on a mission sponsored by a charity. They were not in any prohibited area and posed no danger to the Israeli military.

Additional strikes and ceasefire tensions

Later on Saturday, Gaza medics reported that another Israeli airstrike in the town of Juhr Eldeek, in the central Gaza Strip, killed two Palestinians. The Israeli military stated that it was unaware of this incident. Hamas accused Israel of attempting to undermine the ceasefire agreement, and they pointed to 150 Palestinian deaths since January 19. They called on mediators to urge Israel to move forward with the phased ceasefire, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the stalemate.